Dr. Appointments

Our Daughter recently had her regular eye and Pediatric Rheumatology appointments.

The eye appointment went great, her vision is fine with no signs of swelling. Good news!!

The Reum appointment went good as well. She can get off of her Naproxen, which she has been on for over three years!! She needs to stay on the same amount of Methotrexate because she still has the slightest of swelling in her right ankle.

We have a followup in three months so hopefully the ankle swelling will be better by then.

As a side note, if your doctor hasn't told you about the various Arthritis groups that are out there ask to speak to them about it or the patient relations person. We never found out about the Arthritis Foundation until 3 years into our daughter's disease! I spoke with our doctor and patient relations and they now have a packet of info for all new patients.

Golf Fore Healthy Joints

On Monday June 21st, 2010 the Madison chapter of the Arthritis Foundation held a fundraiser at the Maple Bluff Country Club. They had invited some minor celebrities including Mike Eaves, Matt Lepay, Jim Bakken, Pat Richter, and Jay Wilson.

It was a great event for a great cause! Everyone was very enthused about golfing Maple Bluff and helping out the Arthritis Foundation.

I had a chance to talk with Mike Eaves about Our Daughter's Story and he was very interested and asked detailed questions about her situation. He said if he could ever help out again to let him know :)

One note about Arthritis Foundation events, they are fun!! I have volunteered at three of them so far and each time I left feeling like I had spent my time well. Having a young family there is never enough time in the day but I never leave a foundation event feeling like I had wasted my time.

I always have a great time working with such a great group of people. I think it is so very important for them to make the events fun because it encourages you to come back next time, and I will!

The event raised over $22,000 which is great for such a small staff to secure that much funding!

Governor Doyle signs Arthritis Month proclamation

On May 19th 2010 we were lucky enough to be invited to the signing of the Arthritis month proclamation by Governor Jim Doyle. We were able to tell him a brief story about our daughter's Arthritis and he was very receptive.

He thanked all of us for the advocacy and seemed very genuine in his support for the Arthritis Foundation mission.

It was a neat experience to be in the Governor's office and to meet him.

Spring turning into summer

Our Daughter's Arthritis has been slowly improving this spring. We have been trying to go to the park whenever it is nice out which means about a mile bike ride for her both ways. On the way home most days she says that her knees hurt, but it goes away quickly when we get home.

I have noticed that when we are inside and not as active for a few days that she seems to be more sore, moving definitely helps her to feel better.

Right now we are staying vigilant and preparing for the summer.

We will be attending the National Juvenile Arthritis Conference in Philly this year, we can't wait.

Stay tuned to this blog during the event, I will try to keep it updated.

Hope you are all having a good summer!!

The "A" Team - Arthritis Walk

Thank you, THANK YOU, ThAnK yOu!!!! to everyone who donated to the Arthritis Walk this year in honor of our daughter!! Together we raised over $3,000, the second highest total in the state so far :)

Walk day came with miserable weather but we had a good showing and had lots of fun!!

Our daughter walked/ran with her friends and family for the whole walk, didn't need a wagon ride at all.

Thanks everyone, see you again next year!!

Heading to the National JA Conference

We just booked our flights and the hotel and we will be attending the National JA Conference in Philadelphia, PA!

Information can be found here:
http://www.arthritis.org/2010-ja-conference.php

We are really excited to go and learn more about our daughter's Arthritis, let us know if you are going.

Thank you, THANK YOU, Thank you to the Wisconsin chapter of the Arthritis Foundation for the opportunity to apply for a grant to defer some of the cost!

The Arthritis Foundation really is an amazing place, a place I am PROUD to be a part of!!

Moving, the best medicine

Moving, something that no one in pain wants to do really is the best medicine for Arthritis and overall health. It is a cruel irony that the easiest way to get through the pain is to move, something she doesn't want to do.

May is National Arthritis Awareness month, one of the main themes is to get out and be active.

My daughter and I are trying to do our best to do just that. When she spends the day playing hard she feels so much better, not just in her Arthritis but about herself as well.

Be sure to take some time out each day and be active, you will feel better!