Chris started having problems noticeable problems when he was 10 years old. Most of the time we ignored it thinking he was trying to get out of going places. You see, he has Aspergers Syndrome, has anxiety issues and loves to just be by himself. We knew something was very wrong the morning he couldn't walk down the hallway without crying. My son doesn't cry, he generally doesn't feel pain unless i
t's extreme. Off to the doctors Dad took him. After months of antibiotics and one emergency surgery, we thought his knee was getting better. His diagnosis, unknown infection. Fast forward 6 months and the knee was swollen and painful again. This time we demanded another doctor and a second opinion. That doctor was a ped gastroenterologist who told me that he was sorry but Mom I need to send you to Salt Lake, 300 miles away. He said I think your son has Arthritis. After several more weeks of waiting, we finally saw a pediatric rheumatologist. She immediately diagnosed him at age 11 with Enthesitis Related Arthritis. From there the journey finally had a name and a plan. Fast forward all these years and Chris is an active 17 year old. He just received his Eagle, which he started at age 10. He is active in his local junior Air Force ROTC and puts in countless hours for the Arthritis Foundation. He is studying graphic arts and 3D animation through his local Online High School and is ending his junior year. We just returned from out Rheumatologist appointment this week with the news that we can now step down to just taking Enbrel. His jaw has permanent damage as does his left knee. His knee is due to the surgery he endured before the correct diagnosis was given. We didn't chose this journey but we made a choice as a family to fight for all the children who will come after him. We fight to raise awareness in our local community so that another child isn't misdiagnosed and unnecessarily operated on. We fight for a cure!"
