One day at a time

[Guest guest]

Hi Faye,

You are right, sometimes it's even one minute at a time, but you are

ahead of the game already. You have a plan and you know were the bumps

might turn up. Just don't be to hard on yourself, even if it's

not " perfect " it's still worth something. I have " real world " friends

who are also 100 plus overweight and I have noticed we all are tempted

to get discouraged if we aren't " perfect " . You've done three really

great things for yourself today and no matter what happens the good

things won't be " undone " .

Thinking of you,

christine

[Guest guest]

HEY Faye how are you today. Well, I am sure the weather in MASS is as hot if not hotter than NH. The theory of taking it one day at a time is great when you say it. BUT doing it is another. I myself have to keep reminding myself because it is so easy to eat eat eat OR binge. Then when it is over your like WHY WHY WHY... You end up sick to tummy in the end. So heres to you and I that we dont binge today OR overeat. We all have to learn to eat until satified not stuffed.

Make a big glass of ice tea and do some quiet reading if you feel yourself about to binge.

NH... Mom to Abby Liz 10/94 Anne 7/99

[Guest guest]

Hi : >

> Make a big glass of ice tea and do some quiet reading if you feel

yourself

> about to binge.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Good advice , but unfortunately I didn't follow it last evening : (

Thanks for replying.

Faye

[Guest guest]

One day at a time

www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=c64df44d-7983-4e66-8f44-f010b0f3b9\

9e & k=46981

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis means constant pain for Priscilla Voakes, but

she still sees life as an adventure.

Priscilla Voakes is a vibrant, energetic 23-year-old. She's studying drama

at the U of W. She wants to be a high school teacher.

She's got great parents, a fabulous boyfriend and, in case we forgot to

mention it, Priscillia also has rheumatoid arthritis in 95 per cent of her

joints.

" It's taken quite a toll on my body, " she admits. Doctors diagnosed her with

juvenile rheumatoid arthritis when she was six, and the domino effect has

been significant, requiring a cocktail of different meds that haven't always

agreed with her.

The predozone that relieved symptoms caused osteoarthritis, and Priscilla's

hips were especially vulnerable to it.

" I got to the point where I couldn't even put on my own shoes and socks, "

she says. " When you're 22 years old and your parents are putting on your

socks ... well, that's not good. "

Her left hip was replaced last year, but it wasn't exactly a textbook

surgery. " The recovery was very slow, " she says. " They didn't want to cement

the joint. I had a walker for six weeks but I only had 50 per cent usage of

the left leg. Then I had a cane, then at-home physio. "

Despite all that, she was willing to return immediately to St. ph's

Hospital in London to get the right hip done. But she has to be patient and

wait the recommended period of time to let the body heal.

March is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, and this year Priscilla is the

face of the chronic disease in Windsor and Essex County, meeting with

children and their parents to talk about the effects it can have on the

entire family.

The society's Elaine Monk can't think of a better " champion for arthritis "

than Priscilla, who never lets the disease get her down.

" I'm never depressed. I've always taken pride in having a positive attitude

and I never let it get the best of me, " she says.

" Pain? I would say I'm in pain 24 hours a day, but it's controlled by the

meds. You have to stay active and exercise. Walking is great, and so are

low-impact exercises. "

As a child, she also wore leg and arm splints at night to keep the limbs

stretched and help keep the joints from becoming deformed.

There are three types of juvenile arthritis - polyarticular, pauciarticular

and systemic. Some kids outgrow the disease by the age of 16. Priscilla

wasn't one of them.

" Arthritis is part of my life forever. You just live one day at a time. "

And that's one of things youngsters, who are clearly frightened by the

diagnosis, need to know.

" What do you tell a six or seven year old with JRA? Tell them you know that

what they are dealing with is not easy, but make it clear how strong and

brave they are, and how proud of them you are. "

Priscilla's parents and Randy are the perfect role models for others

dealing with their child's arthritis, learning whatever they could along the

way and providing their daughter with positive alternatives to the

activities that were out of her reach.

" They were always there for me and so were my friends and teachers. Everyone

has been so supportive. When I couldn't go out for recess, my friends would

stay with me and paint or draw. "

Priscilla officially graduates in April, and she's already applied to

teacher's college. While she wants to stay here, close to friends and

family, it isn't because she worries about being alone with her arthritis.

" I'm a very adventurous person, actually. Getting this at such a young age,

I realized I wanted to see things and explore.

" I don't sit around. I'm not scared to go out on a limb. I believe you live

each day to the fullest. "

And she does.

What's available

.. A regular arthritis clinic at 1400 Windsor Ave. run by arthritis

physiotherapist n Kirby. For more information, call 1-866-466-0501.

.. The arthritis self-management program, a six-week course run by

volunteers. The next class begins Saturday, and the scheduled chronic pain

workshop is two hours long. Call Jennie son at 519-252-8224.

.. For more information about these and other programs offered through the

Windsor-Essex chapter of the Arthritis Society of Canada, call Elaine Monk

at 519-944-2619.

Growing a cure

Priscilla Voakes will be at Devonshire Mall Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.

to 6 p.m. to answer questions and support the Growing a Cure for Arthritis

campaign. You can help by purchasing flowers or a garden of hope.