Sadie has been selected to be this year's Youth Honoree for the Jingle Bell Run, and we are so honored for our little girl to represent all the children when Juvenile Arthritis at this fun event. We would love for you to join us on our team to support such an amazing foundation so near and dear to our hearts. Any donation is greatly appreciated to hit our goal of $2,500.  

Sadie's Story 

Sadie was diagnosed with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in April of 2022. Sadie was only 20 months old at the time. Prior to April, Sadie was a happy, fun, energetic little girl you never know her body was holding a secret. At the beginning of April, she would cry in pain every time we would pick her up. As a parent it was heart breaking to see your child in pain, but not understand why. Soon after she got an ear infection (nothing out of the ordinary for her), but the fever continued for over a week. Finally on Easter Sunday, a day we celebrated the lord he gave us the sign that finally led us on this journey. Sadie came home from a day of Easter egg hunting and her knee was severely swollen. The next day we went in to the Pediatrician and they sent us straight to the Rheumatologist. Our conversation with the Rheumatologist went great. We planned to do cortical steroid shots and get her back to normal. After a few days we got a call from the Rheum. that her bloodwork showed a completely different story, and we would need to be at the hospital on Monday. To plan a week or two stay. WAIT WHAT??? Thrown for a loop and our head spinning we prepared for our hospital stay. After a week in the hospital and LOTS of tests, procedures and bloodwork. Our Sadie girl was diagnosed with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.  About 10% to 20% of children with JIA have a rare and serious subtype called systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA). “Systemic” means it may affect not only the joints but other parts of the body, including the liver, lungs and heart. SJIA, sometimes referred to as Still’s disease, can occur any time during childhood, but it most commonly starts at about two years of age. By this time Sadie could barely walk and was not able to rotate her head in any direction. Watching her not be able to be a normal child was heartbreaking, but the strength and courage of the 20-month-old was so amazing to watch. Now that we had a diagnosis it was time to work on the right treatment. Sadie has been through Biweekly injections, Weekly injections, Infusions, all the treatments no 2-year-old should have to endure.  

Today Sadie is the most independent 3-year-old you could imagine. She loves to follow her big brother around. She is in gymnastics and loves running in the yard with her dog. She does weekly injections like a champ to keep her symptoms under control and it will always be an up and down battle. But we are so thankful for her providers for acting fast and getting a diagnosis so quickly. Our Sadie girl is a fighter and we will always be by her side to help her in this battle!