2009 Jingle Bell Run/Walk - Lake Norman, NC

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My Personal Page

Arthritis Awareness Quiz

Welcome to the Donation Page of
Jessica Porter

My Team Page

	$250 Winter Wonderland
	$100 Snowman
	$50 Snowball
	$25 Snowflake
	Other (minimum $10 Flurry)

Enter Donation Amount Here: *Currency shown: US Dollar $

My Fundraising Goal:
$500.00

Money Raised to Date:
$1,428.00

If you are unable to donate online, please print out a donation form.

Join me in my efforts to support Arthritis Foundation, Carolinas Chapter!

Hi! My name is Jessica Porter. I am 11 years old and a student at Lake Norman Charter Middle School in Huntersville, NC. I was born in Rockford, Illinois but have lived most of my life in North Carolina. I live with my parents, Stephanie and Ross, my older sister, Kelli, my younger sister, Jocelyn, and my dog, Riley.

I am a very warm and caring person. I love to make friends, play outdoors and dance. I am in my 7th year of dance at Rhythm In Effect Dance Studio where I take ballet, jazz and tap. My goal is to be a doctor one day.

I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis ("JRA") when I was 8 years old. I had fallen on my left knee. After 4 months of continual pain and swelling and numerous doctor visits to my pediatrician and orthopedist, a blood test revealed I had JRA. I then began seeing a rheumatologist. Originally I was considered to have Pauciarticular Arthritis because only my knees were affected, but now I am considered to have Polyarticular Arthritis because I have pain in my ankles, wrists, fingers and jaw. I was placed on Naproxen for the inflammation and had 3 cortisone shots within the first year. After determining this wasn't effective, I began daily doses of Folic Acid and weekly injections of Methotrexate and Enbrel. I had to stop taking Methotrexate because I was unable to tolerate it. I now take a pill called Arava once a week and have a weekly injection of Enbrel. I go every 8 weeks to have blood work done to make sure my liver and kidneys are OK. I wear ring splints on my fingers at night as preventive therapy. I continue to see my rheumatologist at Duke University Children's Hospital every 3 months and my ophthalmologist at Horizon Eye Care in Charlotte every 4 months for follow-up care. Through all my treatments, I keep a positive attitude that one day there will be a cure for this disease.

On Saturday, November 21, 2009, I will be participating in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis at Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Road in Cornelius, NC. It is a 5K run/1 mile walk to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. Won't you please support our cause, MY cause! Better yet, come run/walk with me. My team is called "Jessica's Jingler's". Hope to see you there!

Special Thanks to: