    Click on the names below for more info Now aged four, Arabella Wallwork has suffered from arthritis since she was just 18 months old but she is still up for a challenge! Caitlin Thackray is aged five and her arthritis was triggered by a viral infection when she was only two years old. After years of painful struggle, Elice Corner's life was turned around when she started taking etanercept, one of the new anti-TNF therapies developed by arc scientists. Oliver Hankinson was only four when he developed arthritis; suffering so much pain and swelling in his left knee that he could barely walk. Now five, Honor Byrne from Dumbarton has had arthritis since she was about 16 months old. Although she still occasionally needs to use her pram, medication and physiotherapy mean that Honor is making good progress. |
  Arabella was just over a year old when her parents noticed something was wrong with their daughter. She wasn't moving about as well as other youngsters in her mother and toddler group, and her knees were becoming very swollen. First thing in the morning the little girl would scream with pain for two hours and not be able to walk or stand up. It took a lot of research and many visits to the doctor before the diagnosis of childhood arthritis was made. Treatment, including drugs and physiotherapy, mean that she can now lead a happy, active life. She has improved so much that she took part in a big sponsored arc Noddy Walk in London's Battersea Park in July 2007.  |
