At another site I'm a member of; a lady that I've come to think a great deal of posted this from a book she had recently received "Mayo CLinic on Arthritis". It's the story of a family of 5 and their life with Arthritis. It moved me....and I wanted to share it with all of you as well.
A Family Matter
By Kevin of Arlington, Texas
My three young sons and I all have rheumatoid arthritis. My wife Nicki, is the only one in the family without the disease.
I’ve had arthritis since I was 6 weeks old. A swollen left elbow was the first clue. Thirty years later this was also the first clue for our oldest son, Timothy when he was 3 months of age. He’s now 8. Our twins, Jacob and Paul, developed the symptoms when they were 1. They’re now 5.
Sometimes at our house, stress soars off the scale. It can happen in the morning when we’re struggling to get one of the boys ready to go to the doctor to have swollen joints drained or injected with steroids. It can be hard to find the energy for patience when you’ve been up all night with them, soaking their flared joints. But sometimes even those nights become divine, as we sit in the hot tub under the starlight and talk for hours about everything from knock-knock jokes to why Timothy can’t play soccer anymore and how his courage inspires mom and me.
We cope with the stresses. When there are a lot of swellings going on and things start to get crazy, we back away from activities. Timothy hasn’t been to Cub Scouts much this year, and he didn’t make it to soccer, although we paid the fee – just in case. We often at the last minute, have to cancel holiday gatherings with family and friends. We’ve taken Timothy to counseling to help him over the depression he felt. Nikki and I also go to counseling to keep our marriage strong enough to endure the stresses created by the arthritis. Our friends have been a great help, too, watching the kids and running errands. Once during an especially tough time, they brought meals for 3 months.
Nikki has a unique way of looking at our family’s arthritis. She says the disease has shaped me into a “positive, focused, creative, wonderful person.” And she tells our boys that it can do the same for them, if they decide to journey with arthritis instead of thinking of themselves as victims. For victims can only grow bitter, but travelers grow stronger each day.
I want to be a traveler.
Love,
Lovie
Thanks Lovie. I like looking at this as a journey that can create positive forces in your life. I cannot imagine being a child with RA! I like reading your posts..........Thanks for posting that, Lovie.
Kelly
Kinda puts it all in perspective
thanks lovie
Barbthis was a good story. it would be interesting also to hear the
perspective of the boys when they are a bit older. having lived
with JRA myself, and now possibly watch bastian begin to deal with
it...it is interesting to see another's perspective. I thought about you and Bastian when I read that Wayney. Hoped it might give you a little inspiration for what might be a difficult time ahead. Glad things at this new doctor went pretty well. I'll continue to keep you both in my prayers. Lovie "A little inspiration" indeed, Lovie! Thanks for sharing the story. It truly does put a new perspective on things, doesn't it? I have to be honest. When I first joined this board, I felt like a "victim". I was angry that the RA had come back. I was CERTAIN that God would heal me. And He has, but not in the way I expected. He healed me from the inside! I now look at this disease as an adventure. I'm a traveler.
You guys are wonderful, and I'm so glad I found this board!
Cris
hugs, wayney
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