A 6-year-old calls it 'Arthur,' but it's really juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

[Guest guest]

A 6-year-old calls it 'Arthur,' but it's really juvenile rheumatoid

arthritis

www.twincities.com/ci_8495936?source=most_emailed

Caroline Pranke, of Lakeville, woke up one day at 18 months of age with a

knee the size of a softball.

She didn't know it at the time, but her life had changed forever.

Caroline, now 6, has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - or " Arthur, " as she

calls it.

Severe pain in her joints limits her activity and leaves her body swollen.

The disease is most severe in her knees, neck and jaw. On the playground,

she struggles to keep up with the other kindergartners and is sometimes left

behind. It's a daily challenge for her to walk, climb stairs and do what

other 6-year-olds do.

But one of the biggest challenges for Caroline and her parents, Alia and

Alan Pranke, is that most people think of arthritis as an " old people's "

disease.

To help spread awareness, they and a team of supporters will be at the Mall

of America today to participate in the Juvenile Arthritis March sponsored by

the North Central Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. The Prankes will be

honored at the end of the walk.

Greene Guentzal, events assistant at the North Central Chapter, said

many people don't understand that children can have arthritis.

" One child I know had trouble with his school nurse because she didn't think

it was a serious problem, she thought he was making it up just to get

attention, " Guentzal said.

Caroline is one of 6,000 Minnesota children living with arthritis and one of

300,000 nationwide.

The Prankes got involved with the Juvenile Arthritis March four years ago.

" We were sort of in a state of awe to see all the other kids that were there

experiencing a story similar to ours, that we knew we had to get involved, "

Alia Pranke said.

The money raised by the event goes to arthritis research.

The Alpha Omicron Pi chapter of the women's fraternity at the University of

Minnesota focuses on juvenile arthritis as its philanthropic activity and

provides volunteers and fundraising for the event.

" The first time that I met the children in wheelchairs and saw them kind of

bedridden or immobilized, I felt almost ignorant that this is such a huge

disability that affects young people, too, " said Hines, the chapter's

philanthropy chair. " It's something that's forgotten or isn't talked about

enough. "

Caroline is looking forward to today's event.

" I like meeting other kids that have arthritis, " she said. " I know how

they're feeling, and they know how I'm feeling. "

Caroline takes seven medications a day and gives herself two shots a week.

After trying more than 30 medications over the past four years, her doctors

still struggle to find something that will relieve her pain.

Caroline also has an eye inflammation that is common in children with

arthritis. She has had two eye surgeries, takes six eye drops a day and

wears sunglasses to shield her eyes from light.

" I think the hardest thing is trying, because you can't really run that fast

and all your friends can, " Caroline said. " That's usually the hardest thing

for me. And I hurt a lot, and if I fall, I just keep going. I just get up

and keep going. "

Alia Pranke calls her daughter a hero for her persistence.

" The hardest part for me is knowing there's no cure and there's no way that

I can take her pain away from her as much as I want to, " Alia Pranke said.

" But she's a fighter. She's definitely one of the happiest kids I've ever

met. She's an old soul in a kid's body, I guess. "