Ava Marquardt
Juvenile Arthritis
Youth Honoree  Ava was 1 ½ years old when her mom knew something was wrong with her. Ava went from walking and running around in the mornings and after naps to not being able to even stand or straighten her knee when she would wake up. In November 2008, in an attempt to seek answers, Ava’s parents took her to the pediatrician, who then referred them to an orthopedic doctor. The orthopedist tested for cancer, a bone infection and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It was a very scary process for the family. The results came back suggesting arthritis, however, they could not diagnosis Ava and referred them to a specialist. During this time there were no juvenile arthritis doctors in the Charlotte area. The closest juvenile arthritis doctor was in in Chapel Hill at UNC Pediatrics. They waited four months to get an appointment, but in March 2009 they finally got a diagnosis that Ava had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) but now it is referred to as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), which is arthritis in children that causes chronic joint inflammation in one or more joints and sometimes it can affect your eyes.
To support or read more about Ava's journey, please visit her team's fundraising page today! |
