Krystie

Today, young Krystie wrote in with her story about overcoming adversity at such a young age. Amazing!

I'm Krystie and I'm 12 (almost 13) and in September of 2014 (age 12) I was diagnosed with juvenile poly-arthritis, it started in my ankles and I won't leave out the fact that 1 1/2 years before I had broken my fifth metatarsal bone and I get frequent sprains in my ankles because the tendons are weak so my ankle easily turns side ways. In the past 2 years I've had 2 sprains in my left ankle and 4 in my right, I've sprained my right wrist and I've had a buckle fracture in the same wrist.

Before I had arthritis I did trampoline and floor gymnastics and I took a lot of horse back riding lessons but when I got Arthritis I had to quit both because it hurt my joints. I have school 5 days a week and have to walk from building to building because I have 7 classes so I have to wear ankle braces every day. Further into the school year I was allowed a rolling book bag and I have to use the elevator book bag or not (which I get bullied because of, arthritis is an invisible illness so no one can see what's wrong with me and that I'm not lazy I have a disease, and now I'm insecure and get nervous easily at school) and I'm prescribed 4 different pain/anti-inflammatory medications.

I take 9 ibuprofen a day and my other medicine which I have to remember to take. But now 10 months of having arthritis I'm not the same I'm tired of constantly hurting but hopefully my arthritis will go away according to my rheumatologist my arthritis may go away since in so young.

This month arthritis is bothering me In my shoulders(new place) and knees. As I said I had to quit activities I loved but after 8 months of arthritis and doing nothing but playing on my computer and iPad I wanted to do something and I've always wanted to play Acoustic Guitar and my arthritis in my fingers,arms and wrists isn't bad so I used money from Christmas and my birthday that I had saved and I bought myself a 3/4 size guitar and my mom bought me a case and different accessories I wanted and I take lessons once a week. So that's some of my battle with arthritis but I still have hope and to anyone else that has anything going on stay strong :-)