I was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) in 1991, when I was just 10 years old. I'm now 27 and have been back on medication for the past 3 years. I've been able to participate in the Rituxan/Rituximab study and had wonderful results. Donations like yours will help us find more effective treatments and maybe even one day, a cure.
Most doctors will never see a case of JDM/JM in their practice so it often goes misdiagnosed for months and can lead to serious and life threatening complications. The best predictor of outcome is early and aggressive treatment. Events like the Marine Corps Marathon help us spread the word about what JM is. If we can educate medical professionals and parents, treatment can be started earlier and children can begin to recover.
When I was asked to participate in the Marine Corps 10K, I was filled with equal parts of excitement, motivation and fear. Anyone who has had JM or another form of myositis will understand how easy it is to remain sedentary. For me, doing anything that caused my muscles to ache, tremble or burn was a reminder of being sick. With the help of a few great friends and a couple wonderful doctors (thanks Dr L), I was able to start training and move beyond the fear. I still have my ups and downs but the thing that keeps me going is the support and motivation from other JM families.
The race is over but it's not too late to donate so dig deep and support a cause that is very close to my heart!
If you would like to learn more about JM, please visit www.CureJM.com.
Chyllia