The Carolinas Chapter, Arthritis Foundation is honored to have Ms. Jessica Porter & Ms. Sallie Spencer as the 2009 Lake Norman Jingle Bell Run Honorees.....
Take a minute and meet our Pediatric Honoree, Jessica Porter....
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, and my two sisters, Kelli (14 yrs.) and Jocelyn (10 yrs.). I am the middle child. 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, 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 have not been able to tolerate the Methotrexate and am currently waiting for approval to try Arava. I still take the weekly injection of Enbrel and 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!.
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Now, Take a minute to meet our Adult Honoree, Sallie Haren....
Hi, I'm Sallie Haren and I have Psoriatic Arthritis. I was diagnosed 2 years ago at the age of 22. I live in Cornelius with my soon to be husband Marc and my 3 dogs Abbey, Izzy and Buster. They are the love of my life! I was healthy and enjoying life when my arthritis appeared. It came so sudden that I was in denial for a while. Being in college I didn't want to have to worry about anything besides having fun and getting a degree. I am just now starting to come around with the idea of having this disease. I made a promise to myself that I was not going to let it take over my life because I have so much more of it to live. I decided to join the Arthritis Foundation to talk with people just like me and to learn more about my disease. I feel it is important for me to get out and support my fellow peers and help raise money and awareness for Arthritis because I know it can happen to anyone.
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