It’s Official

#4 has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

We saw a nationally recognized expert this morning.  She was kind and knowledgeable. Unlike all the other doctors we have seen up to this point, she knew what was going on the moment she saw our girl.

“She has a sausage toe,” she said.  Then, turning to her medical student, she pronounced, “That’s classic of psoriatic arthritis.”  I liked her no nonsense style.  She wasn’t overly blunt, but she didn’t try to soften anything either.  (I find that reassuring.)  She also showed us that it had spread from 2 joints to 4. (Darn it.)

#4 is going to need a weekly injection to try and manage her disease.  (There is not a cure, only management.)  Someone is going to have to give her that shot here at home. (One, two, three..NOT IT!)

That’s it for today.  Through the grace of God, she was able to be seen a week early by the most knowledgeable person who could see her.  There is a plan.  It’s not a fun plan, but it is a plan.  Hopefully within three weeks, it should begin to work.