    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. |
  Honor’s parents were “devastated” when their tiny daughter was diagnosed with arthritis. She had suffered from joint pains since she was a toddler, and was referred to the paediatric rheumatology service at Yorkhill, Glasgow, where the diagnosis was confirmed and she is now receiving “absolutely fantastic” care, according to her mum. The arthritis spread to both ankles, both knees, both wrists and both feet, so Honor was started on various drugs such as anti-inflammatories and steroid injections into her affected joints. She's now on drugs to control the condition, which her mum injects every week, and since then her family has noticed a big difference in her health. She also has physiotherapy at her local hospital. Honor can’t run as fast as her friends, still occasionally needs to use her pram, and sometimes gets tired, but most people would not know there is anything wrong with her.  |
