Warm water and games, movement and laughter — ninety minutes guaranteed to generate smiles among both the children in the pool and the adults watching.
The launch of the Arthritis Foundation, Michigan Chapter's Juvenile Arthritis Aquatics Program was a resounding success Saturday afternoon as seven children with the chronic disease romped under the guidance of two trained therapists. While swimming across the pool and playing with balls, rings and noodles, these children were combating stiff joints, increasing range of motion and relieving pain in the extra warm pool.
"A lot of these kids are able to do stuff here that they couldn't be able to do on land,” said Natalie McKee, manager of community programs for the Arthritis Foundation, Michigan Chapter, based in Troy.
The aquatics program kicks off next week for an eight-week session held at Premier Health & Fitness. Munson Medical Center employees Sue Gotts, a certified recreation therapeutic specialist, and Shelly Roots, an occupational therapist, have both completed additional training to conduct the program. They will use games and races and numerous activities to keep the kids moving, sort of an invisible therapy session.
"Although his arthritis is real quite now, he will feel pain and stiffness on cold mornings so to get him in a warm water environment is really good for him to loosen up the joints,” said Chris DeJong of Suttons Bay, whose son, Alexander, 8, has Juvenile Arthritis.
The Juvenile Arthritis Aquatics Program came to town thanks to the enthusiasm and effort of local families of children with Juvenile Arthritis. In 2006, Traverse City topped the six other fund-raising walks in the state, raising about $40,000 and landed the pilot aquatics program. This year's walk in Traverse City, which will include both a one-mile and a three-mile route, is scheduled for Saturday, May 19.
DeJong and other parents on hand Saturday were thrilled as they watched their children, plus some siblings, race around gleefully. Administering handfuls of pills a day — and often injections as well — to their child while helping them cope with symptom flare ups while still living as normal a life as possible is challenging.
Programs such as this one and the state Arthritis Foundation's summer camp, Camp Dakota in Lapeer, provide rays of hope.
"The biggest thing for her is to listen to her body and different techniques that she can do — learn to take control instead of having it control her,” said Clinton Brian of Benzonia, whose daughter, Olivia, 8, was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at 18 months of age.
Another benefit of Saturday's event was the chance for parents of children with Juvenile Arthritis to meet, to find out they are not alone with their fears, challenges and feelings.
"What we try to do is have the parents meet each other because they are a fabulous support to each other,” said MaryBeth Stano, Juvenile Arthritis initiative project coordinator with the Arthritis Foundation, Michigan Chapter.
DeJong and her son also cope with feelings of being overwhelmed or "Why me?” by throwing themselves into advocacy. Alexander was diagnosed at two years old and the Juvenile Arthritis affects his hips, knees, ankles and elbows. In addition to oral medications, he receives an immune suppression injection two times a week.
Nothing stops him from meeting United States Senators and Representatives to advocate for research funding. His mother proudly points to a pending bill that for the first time has money earmarked specifically for the disease.
"We traveled to Washington and met with Senator Levin and met with Congressman Camp here in Traverse City and in D.C.,” said DeJong. "It's very helpful to be able to say, 'Look at what you have done.' It helps both of us on the 'Why me?' days to channel your anger and frustration into making a difference.”
For more information about the upcoming 2007 Arthritis Walk or Juvenile Arthritis, call the Arthritis Foundation, Michigan Chapter, at 1-800-968-3030.