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Area boy is youth honoree for Walk to Cure Arthritis

HUNTINGDON — Nine-year-old Jonathon Schneider of Huntingdon, a student at Standing Stone Elementary, recently served as youth honoree of the 2017 Pittsburgh Walk to Cure Arthritis, which was held Saturday.

As youth honoree, Johnathan provided leadership in helping the Pitts-burgh Walk to Cure Arth-ritis reach its fundraising goal of $140,000, and spread awareness that arthritis affects an estimated 300,000 kids in the U.S.

More than 50 million Americans have arthritis.

Jonathan was diagnosed with enthesitis, a form of juvenile arthritis, in August 2014.

Prior to being diagnosed, he was suffering from extreme fatigue, swelling of his knees and high fevers. The symptoms occurred off and on, becoming more regular over a year and a half. Doctors thought the episodes were viral and the result of a knee injury.

In July 2014, Jonathan’s knees were swollen to the size of a softball. He was referred to an orthopedic doctor who drained his knees and sent the fluid for analysis. He was initially diagnosed with Lyme disease and treated with antibiotics for 12 weeks, but was still having knee pain and swelling.

On Nov. 19, 2014, he had a PICC line inserted for a four-week treatment with another antibiotic drug.

The treatments eventually stopped the Lyme disease, however they triggered arthritis.

Jonathan has arthritis in his knees and hips.

Jonathon and his family got involved with the Arthritis Foundation to help raise awareness and find a cure. Their goal is to raise $10,000 through the Walk to Cure Arthritis.

To support Jonathan’s team, go to www.WalkTo

CureArthritis.org

/Pittsburgh. Online donations will be accepted through June 15.

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