Actress Jennie Garth's Daughter Diagnosed With Form of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Arthritis doesn't usually get a lot of media attention. It would be fair to say that juvenile forms of arthritis are even less recognized. Many people don't even realize that children can get arthritis. It's typically thought of as "an old person's disease" -- one of the more common misconceptions about arthritis. In reality, arthritis affects people of all ages including over 285,000 American children.
Jennie Garth, an actress primarily known for her role as Kelly on Beverly Hills, 90210 and some decent dancing on Season 5 of Dancing With the Stars, is the mother of three young daughters. The middle daughter, 5-year old Lola, was diagnosed earlier this year with a form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, according to people.com. Garth's daughter is reportedly in remission now after being very sick for months.
Juvenile arthritis can come as a shock to parents who don't know much about the condition. It's very tough for a parent to watch their child in pain. It's also very tough for the child who doesn't understand why they are hurting. Garth's celebrity is bringing attention to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. There are several types of juvenile arthritis -- it's not a single disease. Learn more about pauciarticular, polyarticular, and systemic types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Arthritis Is a Children's Disease Too.
Related Resources:
- Guide to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Book Review: It's Not Just Growing Pains
- How to Prepare Yourself and Your Young Child for a Doctor Visit
- Does My Child Have Arthritis? - Juvenile Arthritis Screening Quiz
Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images
Comments
I am 24 years old and have had JRA since I was 5 as well. Its not a death sentence people, and this little girl doesnt need those around her feeling sorry for her. she needs everyone around her to assure her that she can do everything that a child without JRA can do.
My blessing in disguise was that I went undiagnosed for 4 years (JRA wasnt as well known back then). through these four years of my life i learned how to manage a normal life with the pain. there would be days when i couldnt straighten out my elbow or my knee and i could only limp to school. but i figured out that with a little heat and some movement the stiffness would go away.
my doctors told me that i should not play sports or instruments due to my arthritis. YOU CANT TREAT A CHILD WITH JRA LIKE A CAGED ANIMAL. so, in the rebellious spirit that most children have, i participated in soccer, basketball, track, & cross country and learned to play the piano and violin (the two no-no’s according to the doctors). every doctor i came across told me that if i did not stop these activities i was going to need a knee replacement by the age of 25 so what did i do…became the captain of every one of those teams in high school. then i went on to compete in 3 consecutive Jr Olympics for track and field and earned a full scholarship to a division I university for track where i had an extremely successful college track career. and well, i have 1 more year until i am 25 and a knee replacement does not seem to be in my forecast what so ever. but even if it was, i would not regret living a full life up to this point.
i can not imagine how miserable my life would be if my family kept me locked up because of the doctors orders. i feel blessed to have been able to accomplish all that i have amidst the JRA. i feel that it gave me a winning spirit and the knowledge that nothing could stop me from my dreams. every person in the world comes across undesired situations that provide an opportunity to close off life and protect ones self from the world, but that is not life. I URGE any parent of a child with JRA to enable their kids instead of letting JRA disable these children. dont treat them like victims, teach them to overcome adversity. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
I am now at the age where the JRA will either go into remission or take on a form of adult rheumatoid arthritis. honestly, i do not give the issue much thought. arthritis does not run my life. I have not had a day in the past 6 years where i could not straighten out my knee or elbow. i do still have days where my knee is swollen like a grape fruit but i take my medicine, heat or ice, and move on with my day. i am motivated everyday to live the best life i can live and show others that arthritis is an obstacle to overcome, not a disability to have you down and out about.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. When you said — i am motivated everyday to live the best life i can live — that’s an essential attitude for living well with arthritis, in my opinion.
I appreciate what ellemarie posted about growing up w/JRA – and one of the first things I told myself when my own daughter was diagnosed at just 10 months old, was that this is a disease she can “live” with. With that being said, I also feel strongly that to have grief and sadness over this disease, as a person with it, and as a family taking care of it, is important to recognize and not deny. For myself, until I dealt with the fact that I absolutely hate that my daughter has this, and that I hate seeing her in pain, and hate what it has done to my family – well, only then could I start to heal and move forward. This is a little known disease that many suffer in silence. That, to me, is a disease in itself. And I also know that today, kids w/arthritis ARE encouraged to do sports and be active. I want nothing more for my little girl than to live her life in the fullest. I believe ellemarie would be a great speaker at one of the JRA conferences. To motivate young people w/your achievements would be so inspiring to the kids, and their parents. But I also encourage communication of how this disease is just plain sucky to deal with!