Hannah's story:

Hannah was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis when she was just 4 years old. This diagnosis at such a young age was very overwhelming and scary. Learning about what this disease is and how it will affect her, her parents began grieving the life that would likely look very different now as they tried to learn as much as possible, start making connections, and work to understand how to best help their little girl.  She most likely had arthritis starting as a baby, but did not have the resources in her rural area for a quick diagnosis. With all of the new knowledge, it became important as well to raise awareness that kids get arthritis too.  

Growing up with Juvenile Arthritis, Hannah has endured painful, swollen, and stiff joints. Her joints that have been affected over the years include her knees, ankles, wrists, several fingers and multiple toes, feet, jaw, shoulder, hip, elbow, SI joint, and ribs (costochondritis). She has permanent fractures in her lower lumbar. When she was 10, she was also diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis which overlaps with her arthritis. This has caused issues with her skin, muscles, and blood vessels, but has been much more mild than her JA. She also has other medical conditions and is seen across multiple specialties at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus. 

Hannah travels over 4 hours round trip to see her doctors, receive IV treatments, and testing to include blood tests, MRI’s, CT scans, xrays, ultrasounds, and others as necessary. Many times these trips are made multiple times a month. Locally she sees her primary care physician often, participates in physical and occupational therapy, and gets frequent eye exams to screen for uveitis that could lead to vision loss. Her eyes are also monitored for potential side effects from her treatments. She's had knee surgery and has erosion (permanent joint damage) already in some bones. 

Hannah’s treatments involve strong medications including immune suppression, leaving her susceptible to getting sick often. She doesn't know life any other way without Juvenile Arthritis and the complications that come with it. Hannah has missed many days of school, time with friends, opportunities for activities, and has had trouble physically keeping up with her peers and friends for most of her life.  She participated in the Comfort Ability Program (CAP) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for adolescents with chronic pain in hopes to help increase participation in more of her life experiences.

At 15  years old now, she has worked hard to still find ways to be positive and involved. 

She has found ways to be involved that have been a lot of fun! She has been involved in Seneca County 4-H (8 years), Tiffin Youth Football Cheerleading (3 years), Tiffin University Kids Choir (3 years), school choir, school leadership groups, Master of Me Teen Girls Empowerment group (2 years), dance class (1 year), Tiffin Middle School Track and Field (throwing shot put and discus - 1 year), summer camps for those with serious medical conditions, St. Paul's UMC Youth Group, Community on Stage summer arts academy camp (1 year), and various other events and activities in her community. 

Hannah is a lot of fun, friendly, creative, thoughtful and caring. She is strong, resilient, brave, and works hard. She does her absolute best, and that can look very different on different days. She has really good days, and not so great days. She loves her cat (Mack), music, dancing, singing, swimming, making videos, playing pranks, going to Cedar Point, and spending time with friends and family. 

Hannah and her family are so thankful for the amazing care she receives through the Rheumatology Dept at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, various other specialties on her care team at NCH, and her local medical team as well. Her medical journey has not been easy, but she has the best support from her medical team to her friends and family! 

With the support of the Arthritis Foundation, Hannah has benefited from new treatment options and research outcomes, state and national advocacy outcomes, the JA Power Pack when she was initially diagnosed, connections to peers with similar conditions, JA summer camp, virtual JA summer camps, and most recently Hannah and her parents attended the national Juvenile Arthritis Family Summit in St. Louis, MO. This event was full of information, education, and connections. Hannah’s family and friends continue to pull together to support the Arthritis Foundation and we hope you will consider joining us! 

We are so excited for her to be the Youth Honoree at the 2024 Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run - but it’s not just about Juvenile Arthritis. This family-friendly, fun and festive race raises funds so the Arthritis Foundation can pursue a cure while providing life-changing information, resources and support for all people with arthritis/ related conditions and their caregivers. Please join us at Jingle Bell Run, and/ or donate to support this important work to conquer arthritis for good.