Lindsey
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Young Adult Honoree
 At 3 years old, Lindsey ran into a rose bush, causing her knee to swell. The swelling did not go down, so Lindsey had numerous tests and scans to determine why. Ultimately an eye exam revealed she had uveitis, and she was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. She developed cataract that needed to be surgically removed, but inflammation made that impossible. Today, Lindsey continues without lens in her right eye. Aside from a recent flare up, Lindsey has remained stable for numerous years. Following college, she joined the Arthritis Foundation committee to help plan the Jingle Bell Run and Walk to Cure Juvenile Arthritis.
|
Dr. Matthew Basiaga is a recent Minnesota transplant. He completed pediatric residency and chief residency at Penn State Children’s Hospital and a pediatric rheumatology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He was on faculty for several years at Seattle Children’s Hospital/University of Washington before joining the pediatric rheumatology division at Mayo Clinic in 2019. He serves as the chair of the division of pediatric rheumatology. He has additional certification in musculoskeletal ultrasound which he incorporates as part of his practice. While he cares for children with all forms of rheumatic disease, his primary research focus includes childhood onset Sjogren Disease and medication safety. He resides in the twin cities metro area with his wife and two children.
Before Rosie turned two, her grandma noticed a swollen right knee. After multiple visits with doctors she was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). She has bravely faced weekly injections, all without losing her kindness and extraordinary imagination. Rosie loves participating in sports, especially gymnastics. Her goal is to complete the splits before her 8th birthday.