I am 23 years old and was diagnosed with JM in July 2000 when I was 15 years old. After working with Dr. Lisa Rider and Dr. Lisa Christopher-Stine, I was able to find a regiment of medication that worked for me. I have successfully weaned off of all steroids, IVIG, and Imuran. I am still taking Plaquinil but I hope to be off of that in the next years as well. I am living on my own now in Baltimore, Maryland. I completed my Bachelors in Social Work from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland and am currently completing my Masters in Social Work at the University of Maryland Baltimore. I plan on working fulltime after graduate school.
These last eight years have been extremely challenging for not only myself, but my family and friends. There have been many tears shed, fights caused by stress, miss opportunities, and sadness. I could focus on that but it would not do me any good. Instead, I choose to focus on what wonderful relationships I do have, the friends that stuck around through it all, the bond that I have with my sister, how my 5 year old niece Olivia would hold my hand while I had my monthlylabs drawn, and what opportunities JM brought me.
Many people ask how I was able to complete school, maintain a positive attitude, and get through all of this. I tell them that everyone has their own set of tools they use. Some use the strength of prayer, others are aggressive in doing their part in finding a cure. Humor has been my medicine. I have had times where I could have given up, and have come close to it. I was lucky enough to have people around me who put a end to my pity party and who gave me a reason to smile, joke, and laugh. As my mom says...it could always be worse.