Lisa S. - Quilt Finished in 2005
Born: December 17, 1985
Illness: GERD (Gastroesophegeal Reflux Disease), Asthma, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis with a Polyarticular course (meaning all joints involved), Tachycardia, hole in heart
A Special Thank You From Lisa's Family!
Written April 5, 2005
Thank you so much for the beautiful quilt I love it and I was so amazed and thought it was the prettiest thing ever. The beautiful quilt is on my chair with the cute little pillow right next to it, it has not only become a beautiful addition to my room but it will also be something I will cherish forever. Thank you so much.
Lots of Love,
Lisa
Lisa's Story
written by Lisa
I have suffered with GERD (gastroesophegeal reflux disease) from birth and because of it developed Asthma. The combination of the two led to several bouts of ear infections, croupy cough, bronchitis, sore throats, sinus problems, tonsillitis and infections of that sort throughout my early childhood years. At age six I began fighting my other battle, the one that has no cure. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, with a Polyarticular course, meaning that all of my joints are involved. In 2003 I was diagnosed with Spondyloarthropathy a form of spinal arthritis which also affects my ribcage and sternum. There is a possibility that someday my organs may become involved in this progressive disease. This past August we had a really big scare, I started having trouble breathing and was rushed to the ER by ambulance. They though most likely it was ILD (idiopathic lung disease) which is commonly associated with kids who have my disease. After a three day stay in the hospital and several tests later they determined it was not ILD (thank you God) but instead exacerbated asthma due to viral pneumonia. Unfortunately the tests also revealed a possible answer for why my heart rate has always been so high, between two of my chambers there is a hole, its called a PFO. I am going to have to undergo some more testing to determine whether or not my hole will need repairing. If the PFO is linked to the tachycardia (heart rate over 100), then I will need the surgery. We are hoping that surgery wont even have to be considered but I am ready to take it all in stride if it is. Other then all that though I am a normal 19 year old. I am a college student and hope to someday be a public speaker about childhood illness. I volunteer at a camp for kids who have cancer, its the best thing I have ever done in my life and I so love doing. I am a Christian and a big fan of movies. I'm like every other 19 year old except I have a few diseases that don't always agree with me. But I am happy to be alive and I make the most of my life, in the end I guess that's really all that matters.
Written by Lisa
