Allie is doing AWESOME!!!

As many of you know, Allison was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was just 20 months old. This is something no parent wants to hear for their child. There is no cure. Since that time, she has been on daily pain killers (naproxsin) and on Sundays she takes an additional medicine (methotrexate) to help keep the disease from spreading. Allie has not had any more joints affected and is doing awesome! In fact you would NEVER even know that she had arthritis the way she jumps and runs around. This has been such a blessing because we hear all these horror stories of kids and adults who have this disease and doing normal everyday functions is hard for them.

After years of Dr. visits and blood draws (to make sure her body is still working correctly while taking this medicine) we finally are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel - at least for now! Dr. Getz is finally weaning her off of the methotrexate!! Methotrexate is actually a chemotherapy drug that is used in very small doses to help with arthritis. I actually cried the first time I had to fill the prescription even though I knew this is what was best for her. The side affects are very scary!!!!! So to hear that she might not have to take it anymore is wonderful news. Hopefully by the end of this summer she will no longer have to take it. She will still take her daily pain medicine but that is no big deal! Now we just hope and pray that she will continue to do well after she is done with the methotrexate. Allison is super excited to hear this news too because the blood draws every other month are NOT her favorite!

Our family is so grateful to all the doctors that care for Allison. We are so lucky to actually have Pediatric Rheumatologists in our city. Their knowledge is amazing. I feel that because of their aggressive treatment when she was first diagnosed she is able to be and do the things she loves to do today. When I look back at pictures and see her now she no longer looks sick even though at the time I would not have guessed that she was. Thank you!