From KidsHealth.org - "Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is a type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). JIA is a group of disorders that causes arthritis (stiff, swollen, painful joints) in children. Children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (systemic JIA) have periods of arthritis along with a fever and rash. They also may have swollen glands and problems with the heart, lungs, and blood. Treatments can help with symptoms, so children can live a full and active life. The symptoms can go away for a time (called remission). In some kids, the condition goes away permanently. All types of JIA happen when the immune system, which normally attacks germs, mistakenly attacks the joints. This causes inflammation (swelling and irritation) in the joints and other problems. Systemic JIA can start anytime in kids 1 to 16 years old. Most cases start when a child is around 2 years old. The condition affects boys and girls equally. Doctors don’t know exactly why kids and teens get JIA. “Idiopathic” means “from an unknown cause.” It can run in families but often does not. It’s likely due to a combination of: genetic (inherited) causes the way the immune system responds to infection and illness a trigger, such as an infection."
As any parents would understand, the onset caught Jodi and Miles Plont completely off guard. How to handle a problem of such epic proportion and cost in finding out initially what the problem is and then how to treat it. A grueling task and an immense weight to bare. While they struggled to find an answer, the staff at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital became very familiar with the Plont family and treatments continue for Lucy to this day. Lucy will have to give kindergarten another go next year, and that's ok, but the problem will persist for a while and that's where the community will come together to help.
June 1st there's a charity biker benefit which kicks off at 7 Mile Inn on S. Warner in Fremont. It will be a picturesque ride to Jimmy's Roadhouse, Old Iron Bar and Grill, Kent City Lounge and then back to 7 Mile with cool events along the way. Registration is at 9a and the bikes roll at 10:45. When everyone is back at 7 Mile, food, raffles, silent auction, 50/50, gift baskets and more. It's just the kind of benefit we can all pitch in on in some way shape or form and if you'd like more info on it, you'll find numbers in the photo below.
Our kids, they are the most important part of all of our future. Lucy is a tough, spunky little customer according to all accounts, but to see any child facing this kind of struggle, it's too much for anyone to be able to process. It's a lifelong journey for Lucy and to show her early on that she's from a community that truly cares....it's what we can do.
You can follow Lucy's journey on Facebook. CLICK HERE TO VISIT HER PAGE.
