BETHANY

Bethany was born completely healthy. She suffered from severe reflux through her baby and toddler years. It was so severe that it would occassionally block her airway. She did very well with it after getting on the right medications. When she was 5 she contracted mono from her 13 year old uncle, and that is where our story begins. We had trouble getting the mono diagnosed. She was treated with strep throat 3 times before it was actually found. She was so tired...all the time. And she began have stomach pain and complaining of cramps in her legs at night. The doctor said it was growing pains, and she would be fine. After the mono went away, we started noticing differences in her. She just looked sickly, but the doctors reassured me that there was nothing wrong with her. A few months went by and she was very sick again with strep throat, or so we thought. I changed pediatricians, and left there with referrals to rheumatogolists,and opthomologists. When I went into the rheumatologists office there was a picture of a baby on the wall with the caption... This is the old lady your doctor told you about. From what I understand it is pretty common for pediatricians to tell parents that children don't develop arthritis. We went through a lot of testing and she was diagnosed with systemic juvenille rheumatoid arthritis. The sore throats and high fevers were a symptom of the arthritis. When we went to the opthamologists, we were told that we were very lucky that she did not go blind. She was put in glasses and carefully watched. She had such high fevers during this time, and her stomach still hurt pretty bad. We were told that you can develop GI problems as symptoms of the JRA. She had a lot of rashes as well, but not like the one that had covered her body. Last summer, (2003) when Bethany had just turned 9 she had a grand mal seizure and a mild stroke while we were at home during summer break. The stroke did some damage to her right hand and forearm. Through exercises and therapy, she has almost complete use of the hand/forearm again. She has been seizure free for over a year and off all seizure medications for 8 months. She is STILL in remission from crohn's, she does have mild ibs symptoms but definately not the crohn's back. She does currently have arthritis pain, more on days than others and is treated with Bextra for that. The pain is mainly in her low back and hands. She has came so far. She went from almost dying, to living a very functional life. She went from being on 7 pills, plus chemo shots, to taking 2 medications each day (and one is Zyrtec for allergies). She missed over 100 days of school in 3rd grade. Last year, she only missed 35 days, and this year, she has only missed about 13 days so far, as of Jan. and that is only because she has had the flu twice. She went from being almost totally blind, to seeing very well with glasses. Her vision settled down at 20/60 now, and she does very well with glasses. THIS HAPPENED ONLY THROUGH A LOT OF PRAYERS!!! WE TRULY FEEL THAT GOD GAVE US A MIRACLE!! She lives the life of a semi-normal child now. She has an excellent outlook on life. She does not have any pity for herself, even on her most painful days. She does everything she possibly can to help others, and she thanks God every day for what He has done for her and given her. To any parents of chronically ill children, just keep having faith that God will take care of your child. They really are in God's hands. You can care for them to the best of your ability, but it really IS in God's hands. He can do for you what He did for us!!! Bethany tells everyone she meets about God and how much she loves Him.

Child's Name:  Bethany Lyn                   

Birth date :  June 5, 1994          

Diagnosis:   Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn's Disease, recently diagnosed with Lupus & Epilepsy               

Limitations:  Only when her arthritis is acting up                                               

Skill Level: Normal        

Web Site Address:  http://www.caringbridge.org/tn/bethany

Child's Interests & Favorite Things:      She loves to read.  She loves animals.  She also loves Barbies, to write    and draw, Scooby Doo  and Sponge Bob.      

Pets - Name and Type of Pet: Two Dachshund Dogs - Kenzie and Princess

Anything else you would like us to know about your child:  Bethany is a very strong willed child.  She does not let too much get her down.  She keep going and going when most adults would just give up.  She longs for a normal life without illness, and I pray that she will have that one day.  I know that she will do great things when she gets older.  She is definitely a fighter, and she has such a compassionate heart.

Address where small gifts can be sent:

Piney Grove UMC, Attention Bethany, 6833 Pine Grove Rd, Knoxville, TN  37914