WELCOME

July 8- the first Rheumatologist On Monday, Cooper had an MRI done on his left knee. On Wednesday, we are meeting with a rheumatologist. On the way to this appointment, I had furiously chatted online with a woman that has two daughters with Down syndrome and arthritis. She had given me so much information going into this appointment, questions to ask, things to avoid, things to watch for in the exam. She armored me with some confidence, and that is absolutely invaluable when

The MRI results come back that same afternoon. I see them in Cooper's chart. "Synovial thickening" "Enhanced popliteal lymph nodes" "Question of synovitis" There's that word again, synovitis. What does it mean? Inflammation. Lots of it. Something is causing the lining in his knee to be inflamed. But what? The ordering doctor, the pediatric orthopedic specialist doesn't call me that afternoon. I call immediately the next morning. I want to know what this means. How do I help m

Early June I know mobility is important. We spent a long time helping Cooper learn to walk. Watching him limp and struggle to walk physically pains me, as well as him. I see him fall behind his little brother, no longer able to keep up. One day, Cooper tries to step up onto a curb and falls. He falls down the stairs because he will not/cannot bend his knee. He won't get out of bed in the mornings. He just sits there and waits for me. I am angry. I am frustrated. I cry many te