Betsy Roth-Wojcicki is the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Medical college of Wisconsin /Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW). Betsy has always been very active with the Arthritis Foundation Wisconsin office, involved in the past on the family advisory board, overseeing medical issues at Camp MASH as well as acting as a provider/nurse staffing Camp MASH for the past 20 years. In 2002 she received the Arthritis Foundation Wisconsin chapter Health Professional award and in 2008 received the American College of Rheumatology Master Clinician award.
Betsy has a very active independent rheumatology practice seeing patients at CHW’s main campus here in Milwaukee and in Neenah at the Fox Valley site where she offers support and facilitates help to her patients.
Betsy is honored to be this year's Medical honoree for the 2019 Jingle Bell Run in Milwaukee.
To support Betsey or join her team, "Team CHW", please visit her fundraising page today!
Karen Beres was surprised (and humbled) to be asked to be the Adult Honoree for 2019’s Jingle Bell Run. She considers herself a person who drew the unfortunate card of a life impacted by osteoarthritis but now I know I am a warrior fighting this painful and crippling disease. In the past, doctors told me I have the "plain old garden type of arthritis" that comes with age. No matter what type of arthritis, mine (at an early age) has severely impacted my life for the past 16 years.
Karen had worked over 30 years as an RN and in between surgeries, she would return to work in a limited capacity. In 2009, it was decided that she couldn't function at the level that was necessary. Leaving nursing was a very hard thing to do for her. It was her identity and now had to reinvent who I was. She had been ‘Karen the nurse’ and after her life change she was just ‘Karen’, but Karen who? It was a very long journey to find who she presently is. She is proud of the work she did along with the help of some good therapist to be who I she is.
“I have had my share of pity parties and "Why me?" but my faith has been my saving grace. I have also gained many new friends who suffer with arthritis of some sort of chronic conditions that impact their lives tremendously. It is so comforting to know I am not alone and that these friends share many of the same problems and issues, “says Karen Beres.
Karen asks you to celebrate her victories in handling her arthritis along with the many warriors battling arthritis by donating to the 2019 Jingle Bell Run.
To support Karen or join her team "Karens Krew", please visit her fundraising page today.
Madeleine Schmidt is a happy 11 year old who is able to do what she loves most, ride her horse. Last year, she was not quite as happy. In April 2018, Maddy began to have pain in her hips and knees and began to withdraw from the things that she loved to do. After a few visits to her primary care doctor, which included radiographs and blood work she was quickly referred to the Rheumatology Department at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. By this time, she was having extreme trouble with day to day activities such as getting out of bed and walking. At Children’s Hospital she met a wonderful Nurse Practitioner named Betsy, who was instrumental in discovering what was going on.
In September 2018, Maddy was diagnosed with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and was started on an aggressive treatment plan including daily medications and weekly injections. She has had to undergo joint aspirations and injections, physical therapy and had to miss a lot of school. She has had ups and downs, but through it all, Maddy has tried to remain positive.
The support that Madeleine has received from her family, friends, doctors and nurses (especially Betsy), have made a huge difference in her life and how she has been able to deal with her disease. The Arthritis Foundation helped both her parents and Maddy connect with other families and kids with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and show them that they are not alone. This summer she attended Camp MASH (Make Arthritis Stop Hurting) for the first time, and loved every minute of it. She even discovered that her cousin Nicole, who also has juvenile idiopathic arthritis, was one of her counselors!
Last year, Maddy participated in the Jingle Bell Run for the first time and as this years youth honoree, she hopes to raise money to support and educate others about Juvenile Arthritis.
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