by Smithie Vaughn
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in America today. It not only affects older Americans, but children, too. Just ask Kate and James McGrory who learned this fact when their daughter was only a toddler.
Morgan Anne McGrory was born
September 30, 1999, five weeks premature.
She remained healthy until about 15
months of age. She had been walking for a
little over a month when her mother noticed
her limping one day. The following morning,
her ankle was swollen, red and warm to
touch. Assuming Morgan had twisted her
ankle the day before, her mother took her to
a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, who put a
cast on her ankle for two weeks.
When the cast was removed, the ankle
looked worse than before, so blood work
was done to rule out the possibility of
leukemia. Morgan was then put in the care
of a pediatric rheumatologist. She was diagnosed
with Pauciarticular Juvenile
Rheumatoid Arthritis, a big diagnosis for
such a little girl, but she was lucky to have
only her ankle joint and a few toes involved.
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Arthritis Walk |
| Team sign up: 706-494-6090 or www.2007arthritiswalkcolumbusga.kintera.org Where: Hughston Orthopedic Hospital campus 100 Frist Ct. off Veterans Pkwy When: October 21 Registration: 1:30 p.m. Walk: 2 p.m. |
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Doctors prescribed methotrexate, along with folic acid to offset the side effects of the chemo drug. Her blood was drawn every three months to check for liver damage due to the chemotherapy. She also had her eyes examined frequently to check for damage that could possibly cause blindness.
“Morgan was an incredible patient,” her mother Kate McGrory said. “She didn’t cry when her blood was drawn, and she learned to like the giant eye machine.” Morgan had to undergo several steroid injection treatments to her tiny ankle when the swelling wouldn’t go down. She went to physical therapy to learn to walk equally on both feet and to run without a limp. All the while, James McGrory, her father and an orthopedic surgeon himself, had to watch his own baby suffer, with no real cure.
When she was 4 years old, Morgan stopped having swelling and fevers. She was gradually taken off of the methotrexate and the disease was in remission for two years. Since April of this year, Morgan has had a flare up in the same ankle. She is seeing a local rheumatologist and is now back on the medications methotrexate and folic acid.
Despite her medical difficulties, Morgan is one of those sunny people everyone loves. She has been able to take ballet, tap, horseback riding, cheerleading, soccer and piano. Her main focus is horseback riding, and she is crazy about horses. Her parents feel blessed that Morgan’s type of arthritis is not as severe as many other children’s, and they continue to pray that she stays healthy and that her condition will go into remission once again.
Sister to Nick, 13, and Jake, 11, 8-yearold Morgan is a second-grade student at Brookstone School. She enjoys speaking about her arthritis and helping others learn that children can get arthritis, too.
Arthritis is the nation’s leading cause of disability. Arthritis or chronic joint symptoms affect 46 million Americans, or one in four adults and one in 300,000 children. Dogs suffer from arthritis as well. “Contrary to popular belief, it is not an inevitable part of aging, nor is it something that should affect the quality and enjoyment of daily activities,” said James McGrory, a total joint replacement specialist at Hughston Orthopedic Hospital. There are many things that people can do to prevent and control arthritis— from beginning a walking program to funding research for others — and the Arthritis Walk provides a motivating and fun way to do both.
“The Arthritis Walk is a perfect starting point for people to help themselves and others,” said Arthur Barker, this year’s Walk chairperson. “We encourage everyone to join us and the Arthritis Foundation in the fight against arthritis by joining Hughston and participating in the Arthritis Walk. Not only people are encouraged to participate — the event is dog friendly, too. The Walk will feature a Dog Walk and costume contest, events for the kids and vendor stations of all types. Also appearing at the Walk will be Aubie, Auburn University’s mascot, leading off the Walk as the grand marshall. And Morgan McGrory is the local honoree for the 2007 Columbus Arthritis Walk.
Registration begins on October 21 at 1:30 p.m. and the walk starts at 2 p.m. If you would like to enter a team or know someone who would like to participate, contact Barker at 706-494-6090. For more information about juvenile arthritis, visit www.arthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis.
