Nina was only 12 when her Mom, Evelyn, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at age 40. When Nina was in high school it was bad for her mom in the mornings and before school, she would start a hot bath for her, so she could get up and get right in to help alleviate her aching joints. For almost 50 years, Nina saw the toll arthritis and the effects of the medications had on her mother’s life and her ability to perform daily activities that we often take for granted. Although Evelyn’s RA became severely debilitating for her, she didn’t let it stop her throughout her life. She also liked to help educate those she encountered about living with rheumatoid arthritis.
Nina took up that cause to continue her Mom’s mission of making people aware of arthritis and its effects. Through her committee work on the Jingle Bell Run Northern Colorado, Nina has met some wonderful people who also live with arthritis or who have loved ones struggling with it. Nina fundraisers to help find a cure so no one else must go through the same pain her mom did. Who do you jingle for?
Join Nina in the fight against arthritis, regsiter or donate today!
Katie is 20 years old and an art major at the University of Wyoming. She was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) at 11 years old. Her symptoms started in early elementary school, as pains in her heels when walking and body aches. Before she was diagnosed, the pain was misdiagnosed as growing pains, bone spurs, and tendonitis. She was put in casts, boots, and braces in an attempt to make the pain stop. She was eventually referred to Children’s Hospital in Denver where she was finally diagnosed with JRA.
Since being diagnosed, Katie has been in and out of remission and on many big medications. Today her arthritis affects her more than it ever has, but she manages to keep pushing! As an artist, she uses her whole body and has learned how to adapt and find ways to continue working even when it hurts to do certain things. The best advice Katie can give anyone dealing with this disease is to not let it get you down! She overcomes her disease every day. It makes some things harder to do, but not impossible!
Join Katie in her fight against arthritis, register or donate today!
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