Milani Banks
 Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Youth Honoree

In December 2023 Milani got respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A few days after this her knee started hurting and she was limping. She had x-rays done and everything was clear. A few days later she got a fever. After many doctor appointments they believed the cause to be the RSV or an ear infection. Milani was in so much pain and her mom knew there was something more. She finally had blood work done and the results were scattered. She was sent to the children’s hospital in Peoria for further evaluation. After a week-long stay in the hospital and many tests, they referred Milani to a rheumatologist. A day later she was officially diagnosed with SJIA.