Tucker’s arthritis journey began less than a year ago when he was just 4 years old. His life went from that of a normal toddler to one full of doctor appointments, joint injections, & weekly self-injections in just a matter of a few months.
Tucker's parents say that some days are harder than others & some days they feel hopeless watching their child in pain, but for now they are hopeful and praying for a cure!
"The Arthritis Foundation has been so amazing to us from the beginning. In a time of so many questions, the Arthritis Foundation provided us with all the information we needed & were such a great support for us. We are so thankful for the opportunities the Arthritis Foundation has given us." says Tucker's parents.
To support Tucker, please visit his fundraising page today!
Leah is a bright, thoughtful, and very motivated young lady. She is driven to succeed in everything she does. She is the youngest of four children. Leah grew up watching her older sister battle arthritis and was herself diagnosed at the age of 11.
Despite the challenges she has faced in the year since her diagnosis she has worked hard to manage her disease and not let arthritis slow her down. She continues to play soccer on multiple teams, regularly make the principals list at school, and participate in a variety of after school clubs.
The Arthritis Foundation has been a tremendous help to us throughout both Leah and her sister Sara’s journey. They have provided support, resources connections, and relationships that have been invaluable to us.
Matt Clark, MD is a Clinical Fellow in Pediatric Rheumatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He grew up in Northwest Florida and completed both Undergraduate and Medical school at Florida State University.
He completed residency at Vanderbilt in 2017 and was given the opportunity to serve as a Pediatric Chief Resident the following year. He loves being a Pediatric Rheumatologist at Vanderbilt where he gets to help take care of incredible kids with arthritis and their families. Dr. Clark has been involved in the care of kids with arthritis since 2009 when he worked at Camp Boggy Creek in central Florida and has been back every year since.
Dr. Clark and his wife, Amy, and their dog, June, love calling Nashville home. He loves golf, FSU sports and has been learning to cook under Amy’s guidance.
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