Mom, daughter refuse to let arthritis control their lives

Sharon Yoshizu and 8-year-old daughter Shaley share much more than hugs and kisses. They also share the pain and challenges of living with arthritis.

Their lives are filled with monthly doctor’s visits, intravenous infusions, weekly injections and daily doses of medication, yet you won’t hear them complain much.

"We try to continue to be an inspiration to everyone around us," Yoshizu said. "We are grateful for many things."

Yoshizu was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 21, just two months after Shaley was born.

"All of my joints started to ache," she said. "At first the doctors thought it was from a lack of sleep." But blood tests showed otherwise.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue — in this case, the synovium, a thin membrane that lines the joints. As a result, fluid builds up in the joints, causing pain and inflammation throughout the body.

It’s a chronic disease, meaning it can’t be cured. It is nearly three times more prevalent in women, most commonly striking between the ages of 30 and 60.

The causes are not yet known, but infection, genes and hormone changes may play a role.

For Yoshizu, who has two other daughters, Sadie, 3, and Shyana, 2, the onset of rheumatoid arthritis made everyday activities a challenge.

"I feel like I constantly need to depend on someone else. I miss being independent," she said. "In the beginning, when it was really bad, (husband) Brad would have to help me do simple tasks like bathing and getting dressed. Brad is definitely the backbone of the family."

At the tender age of 2, Shaley was diagnosed with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, a more intense form of the disease which involves five or more joints.

The toddler had woken up with a swollen wrist, but X-rays didn’t show anything abnormal. Blood tests revealed the true cause of her ailment.

"It got worse for her," her mother said. "She didn’t walk for a year and a half after her diagnosis. Luckily, she was determined and learned to walk. Now she goes to school, enjoys swimming and attends an annual camp for kids with arthritis."

Shaley, a third-grader at Wai­alua Elementary School, says ice packs help when she is in pain. At school everyone helps when she needs assistance, her mother said.

Yoshizu suffered another setback when at age 28 she suffered a stroke following neck surgery. Now 29, she walks with a cane and has gained back about 90 percent of her mobility, noting she still has some balance issues.

Through it all, she is always looking for ways to improve the quality of their lives.

"We keep stretching and doing exercises. The more you move, the better it gets," she said. "But it’s the support from family and friends that help us get through everything."

The Arthritis Foundation also has been a big help, Yoshizu said. Shaley was featured in the foundation’s 2008 public service announcements and served as a junior ambassador in 2009, which allowed her and her family to attend conferences in California and Washington, D.C.

"It’s been great because she gets to meet other kids with arthritis," her mother said.

The Make-a-Wish Foundation provided Shaley and her family with a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla. "It was so much fun," said Shaley, noting that meeting Mickey Mouse was among the highlights.

The family regularly participates in the Arthritis Walk held annually in May and hosts fundraisers to collect additional donations for the foundation.

"Our goal is to raise awareness about arthritis in hopes that one day there will be a cure," Yoshizu said.

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“Be Well” features inspiring stories of people dealing with health challenges. Reach Nancy Arcayna at narcayna@staradvertiser.com or call 529-4808.