My Fundraising Goal:
$3,000.00 |
Money Raised to Date:
$1,315.00 |
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If you are unable to donate online, please print out a donation form. |
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Show Us Your Moves! | | I need your help in the movement to cure arthritis
| Arthritis has been a battle for many years. It started with a painful ankle about 12 years ago. I was in 4th grade. It got really bad in 6th grade, and that is when I started hitting up the doctor scene. In 7th grade I had my first surgery and it failed. I spent the next 6 years dealing with it and trying different things out (casts, shots, PT, meds, boots, etc.) and seeing more doctors. I even took two trips down to the Mayo Clinic and spent time seeing multiple other specialists. Finally, about 2 years ago, I found the doctor that took the pain away in my foot. It was Dr. Spitalny! I had a wedge of bone cut out of my heel, some tendon and some bulging muscle sliced out, and then two, 2 inch long screws put in to hold my heal straight and to prevent more arthritic problems. It hasn't hurt once since my foot healed!
About midway when my foot was giving me problems, other joints started to act up. For about 5 years now, I have been seeing Dr. Vehe at Gillette Children's in St. Paul. He is a great doctor, but he, along with other doctor's have concluded that I am a medical mystery! Currently, I am classified as having Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathy, which means that I have multiple symptoms, including arthritis in just about every joint, but I don't quite fall into the sub-category yet. But I am leaning (literally!) into the Ankylosing Spondylitis(AS) subtype. Most may think that arthritis just is in the joints, but that is not always the case. AS can cause the spine to fuse. My spine shows all the symptoms of fusion, but it has yet to show up on MRI's as it could take up to 9 YEARS before imaging tests show it. It can also cause multiple problems in places such as the heart, the intestines, the eyes, and in the areas connecting to the bones.
My story does not end there! I mean if that was the least of my worries, that would be great, but no, my body likes to mix things up a bit! Over the past year or so, my body has enjoyed throwing me some curve balls, such as problems with eating to having horrible skin rashes for months on end! With that, my doctor wonders if I also have Lupus, which is another autoimmune disease. Then to add even more thrill, I am starting to develop osteoarthritis in my hands and potentially my feet. I just started taking Plaquenil in December, but it could take up to 6 months before I know if it is working or not. I have exhausted many medications with a no go, including injecting myself for months on end with potent immune supressants that made me sick for years afterwards.
That is just a page of my crazy, unpredictable health. (to find out the latest, check out: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brittabloomquist) The summary of what is going on seems to get longer and longer every year, and I hope in my lifetime, the summary turns into...I had arthritis, it was bad at times, then it was cured! But right now, that is not anywhere near the case. I am only 21 years old, yet somedays, I feel like an 80 year old. I try to keep going with exercise and always smiling. Gotta keep the humor through the tough times too!
This is my fourth year fundraising for the Arthritis Walk, and I ask you and anyone else you may know, to please make a contribution in my efforts, in beating down the over 300 types of arthritis.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me @ brittabitta@gmail.com |
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