Amelia S.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Child Honoree
 Little miss Amelia was just two years old and at the time only had a swollen knee, when her doctor suspected juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Amelia had a steroid injection that failed, and by that time she was struggling to walk. As more joints became swollen, movement became harder. Now, on two medications, there has been improvement. It’s not easy though, she has days where she is tired and struggles to walk. Medication side effects can be a exhausting. Her family is hoping she is closer to remission. For now, she’s gearing up for preschool, playing with her dinosaurs or talking about Disneyland and giving her family an endless amount of snuggles and giggles. Join or support Amelia and team Amelia's Dazzlin' Dinos on her team fundraising page. |
Originally when Dr. Welk went through medical training, becoming a rheumatologist was not something he had considered. But life had different plans. He was fortunate enough to have helped take care of lupus patients as a physician at the University of Oklahoma, and one particular experience with a young woman who lost her baby due to uncontrolled lupus was life changing for him. The difficulty of her situation and the dramatic improvement she had after her hospitalization due to the care she received by her rheumatology team changed the trajectory of his profession. Out of her tragedy, he found of a love for rheumatology. Not only did his experience with her change his medical career, but it started a change in his outlook on life. 
Holly was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis about 3 years ago. The arthritis started off with her knees swelling, retaining fluid, fatigue, and extreme joint pain. Since Holly’s diagnosis, she has been on various medications and has had fluid removed from joints. Over the past couple years, she has learned that eating healthy, exercise, and reducing her stress has helped greatly. Holly knows that arthritis has taught her to be grateful and appreciate the good days. It truly has given her a whole new perspective on life and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Holly is looking forward to being involved in Jingle Bell Run!
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