Arthritis Foundation, Wisconsin Chapter, names Abigail Cody as the 2010 Northeastern District Arthritis Walk Honoree and Jamie Wellna as the Let’s Move Together – Sheboygan County Honoree. All honorees will lead the charge in the Foundation’s annual Arthritis Walks and continue to raise awareness about arthritis in Brown County and Sheboygan.
Brown County Arthritis Walk Honoree: Abigail Cody
Abigail appears to be a normal 8-year-old girl, but her arthritis began when she was 17 months old. Her mother, Shari, noticed Abigail limping in the morning. X-rays of her knee looked fine but her morning limp persisted. Shari watched her symptoms, did a little research online and brought up Arthritis to the pediatrician. After trips to the Pediatric Orthopedic Physician and a Pediatric Rheumatologist Abigail was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with inflammation in her eyes as well.
Her treatment regimen has gone from naproxen and splints to regular trips to her rheumatologist and eye doctor every 6-8 weeks. Possibly due to bone density problems, she has broken her right arm 3 times. It has been an up and down journey so far. She currently takes methotrexate injections, prednisone, and eye drops 3 times a day but no longer needs physical therapy or her finger splints.
Abigail is very active and playful but she doesn’t run or jump as much as other children including her brother Jonathan. She is happy, resilient and willing to try anything. She reacts well to medications and she barely exhibits symptoms anymore. Her parents, Shari and Chris, enjoy helping out with the Arthritis Foundation because it is a cause close to their hearts. They feel very lucky, and that Abigail’s symptoms are milder than most. They hope you will join the Foundation in helping fight this illness. “I know someday there will be no more children who suffer this way if we all pitch in.” says Chris.
Let’s Move Together – Sheboygan Honoree: Jamie Wellna
Senior year of high school is a time of excitement and change for most students, but Jamie Wellna had an extra change to her health to deal with: rheumatoid arthritis.
Jamie experienced a lot of joint pain in her feet during the basketball season, had difficulty gripping a pen to take notes in class, and her mom had to help her get ready for school because she couldn’t lift her arms above her shoulders. After blood work and tests with her primary care physician, Jamie and her parents went to a rheumatologist in Milwaukee who diagnosed her with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Now at 24, Jamie says her most inconvenient limitation is fatigue. She is learning to take things slow because long periods of walking and morning stiffness can make moving difficult. Fortunately, Jamie has an amazing group of family, friends, health professionals and co-workers who help make things manageable. She enjoys traveling and volunteering. She first began volunteering for the Arthritis Foundation in 2008.
“By sharing my story as honoree, I hope I can inspire or support others. I hope this builds new relationships so that friends, family and others with arthritis can share their stories, too,” says Jamie. “Helping the Foundation raise money and awareness to support research feels like a huge accomplishment.”
To sign up for a walk near you visit www.letsmovetogether.org.
Arthritis Foundation, Wisconsin Chapter Walks:
Walworth County
May 1, 2010 10 a.m.
Town of Linn Fire Department
Dane County
May 3, 2010 10 a.m.
Prairie Athletic Club, Sun Prairie
Waukesha County
May 3, 2010 10 a.m.
Fox River Park, Pavilion #1
Washington County
May 15, 2010 10 a.m.
Cedar Ridge Apartments, West Bend
Platteville
May 22, 2010 10 a.m.
Mound View Park, Platteville
Brown County
June 5, 2010 10 a.m.
Olde School Square, De Pere
Sheboygan County
June 5, 2010 10 a.m.
Cedar Landing, Elkhart Lake
Arthritis Foundation, Wisconsin Chapter Blog 