Young Tabitha Armstrong doesn't display any outward signs of the ordeal she's been through for nearly two years.
Tabitha, 4, is articulate, active and she loves spending time with her grandpa, David Cline and his colleagues at Cool Springs Fire Department.
But Tabitha is struggling with a rare diagnosis for someone so young -- rheumatoid arthritis -- that requires frequent injections and physical therapy to help her deal with the pain.
When Tabitha, then 2, first complained of not being able to walk, Sabrina Armstrong wasn't really concerned. "Since she's my first child, I assumed it was an injury and took her on to day care," Armstrong said.
A few hours later, she got a call from the day-care director. Tabitha was limping.
Armstrong took her daughter to the pediatrician, who believed it was an injury and did X-rays. The doctor prescribed an over-the-counter pain killer. A couple of weeks later, Tabitha was still displaying the same symptoms.
Sabrina said she got a call from Tabitha, who said her leg hurt and she wanted her grandpa to come and get her. Cline went to pick up his granddaughter and was immediately concerned. He called his daughter.
"He said her knee is the size of a softball," Sabrina said.
That led to another trip to the pediatrician and the doctor began looking at a different possibility -- rheumatoid arthritis. A surgeon confirmed the diagnosis a few days later. Two months later, right before Christmas in 2008, they were able to see Dr. Leonard Stein in Chapel Hill. Stein diagnosed Tabitha with polyarticular rheumatoid arthritis, which affects five or more joints.
Tabitha began weekly injections of Enbrel and Methotrexate, and that got the arthritis under control.
Armstrong said she's learning about her daughter's disease day by day. Until Tabitha was diagnosed, Sabrina said, she didn't even realize rheumatoid arthritis affected children.
Because of the support the Armstrongs have received and their desire to help finance research, Tabitha and her family will be taking part in the Charlotte Arthritis Walk on May 15 at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte.
Tabitha and Riley Hagemeyer are the child honorees.
This is the second year the Armstrongs have participated in the walk. Last year, Tabitha raised about $3,000. This year, she's already raised $1,000.
Sabrina began kicking around fundraising ideas a few weeks ago, and decided a concert might be a good way to help Tabitha reach her goal. The event is planned for Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. and will feature the band Thirsty Horses. All donations will benefit the Arthritis Foundation.
Donna Swicegood is a reporter at the Statesville Record & Landmark.
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