Jump to content
RemedySpot.com

Tocilizumab success story

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

Ethan leaves wheelchair to begin life's adventure

BY ANGELA THOMPSON

12/11/2008 4:00:00 AM

There is much to discover when you're six years old, but Keiraville's Ethan

-Monk is delighting in the thrill of the new more than most.

Ethan was one of two children in Australia given the new arthritis drug

Tocilizumab in November last year, before clinical trials were even complete.

Since then he has taken to a life free from the crippling pain of juvenile

arthritis with gusto, shed his wheelchair and joined twin brother Luke on the

biggest adventure of his life - kindergarten.

On his first day at St Brigid's Primary School in Gwynneville Ethan stood barely

as tall as Luke's chin.

Now he is 11cm taller, leaving two sets of outgrown school shoes and some

astounded adults in his wake.

" Luke's the tallest in the class and Ethan was the smallest ... but he's

catching up, " the twins' mother Maree -Monk said.

" He's grown since he stopped his previous treatment, which was steroids, but I

would not have expected the growth to be what it is.

" You can't stop him now - he's a dynamo.

" He's probably the most outgoing of the three boys but that's such a blessing -

we consider ourselves very lucky. "

Ethan's incredible progress extends beyond the growth chart.

Gone is the little boy who watched as his twin and older brother Blake ran,

jumped and swam without him.

Ethan has joined a soccer team, signed on for tennis lessons and is a member of

the City Beach Nippers.

Earlier this month he set a personal best time at swimming lessons and later

this week he and Luke will sing a number in the school talent quest.

" He's always smiling. He's one of those kids that all the other kids sort of

love, " said Ethan's teacher, Amadio.

" He's a good participant, he loves to answer questions in class and tries really

hard all the time.

" He's a pretty energetic little boy. "

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ethan is a Legend! Met him at Camp Twinkletoes 2008 (the family weekend

for kids under 8 with JIA, we were able to start running this year). His

family are really nice people. Looking forward to seeing them today,

actually, at a little Christmas party we've been planning. Can't wait

to see how much Ethan's grown!

I'm SO glad the journo went ahead with this story! I was speaking to her

beforehand and they didn't know if it was something to press ahead with

(pardon the pun)- so I pushed the wonder drug angle.

So a quiet three cheers for (Hip Hip, Hooray x3)

A HUGE YAY for Tocilizumab!!

Jo

Bayly, 6, extended oligo

>

> Ethan leaves wheelchair to begin life's adventure

> BY ANGELA THOMPSON

> 12/11/2008 4:00:00 AM

> There is much to discover when you're six years old, but Keiraville's

Ethan -Monk is delighting in the thrill of the new more than most.

> Ethan was one of two children in Australia given the new arthritis

drug Tocilizumab in November last year, before clinical trials were even

complete.

> Since then he has taken to a life free from the crippling pain of

juvenile arthritis with gusto, shed his wheelchair and joined twin

brother Luke on the biggest adventure of his life - kindergarten.

> On his first day at St Brigid's Primary School in Gwynneville Ethan

stood barely as tall as Luke's chin.

> Now he is 11cm taller, leaving two sets of outgrown school shoes and

some astounded adults in his wake.

> " Luke's the tallest in the class and Ethan was the smallest ... but

he's catching up, " the twins' mother Maree -Monk said.

> " He's grown since he stopped his previous treatment, which was

steroids, but I would not have expected the growth to be what it is.

> " You can't stop him now - he's a dynamo.

> " He's probably the most outgoing of the three boys but that's such a

blessing - we consider ourselves very lucky. "

> Ethan's incredible progress extends beyond the growth chart.

> Gone is the little boy who watched as his twin and older brother Blake

ran, jumped and swam without him.

> Ethan has joined a soccer team, signed on for tennis lessons and is a

member of the City Beach Nippers.

> Earlier this month he set a personal best time at swimming lessons and

later this week he and Luke will sing a number in the school talent

quest.

> " He's always smiling. He's one of those kids that all the other kids

sort of love, " said Ethan's teacher, Amadio.

> " He's a good participant, he loves to answer questions in class and

tries really hard all the time.

> " He's a pretty energetic little boy. "

>

>

>

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...