Hometown:
Age on Race Day: 17
Diagnosis: Enthesitis Related Arthritis and Juvenile Spondylitis
At 3 years old, Antoinette began waking up in the middle of the night very upset, feeling as if bugs were biting her back. Clearly concerned, her parents brought her to Nationwide Children's Hospital to meet with the rheumatology department. After bone scans, MRIs, and blood work, the team was able to diagnose Antoinette with enthesitis related arthritis (ERA) and juvenile spondylitis (JS).
ERA and JS are types of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, which is a group of inflammatory joint diseases that begin before the age of 16. ERA is a form of arthritis that involves inflammation at the sites where tendons or ligaments attach to bones, while JS primarily affects the spine and the sacroiliac joints. Being just 3 years old at the time of diagnosis makes Antoinette one of the youngest patients ever diagnosed with this disease.
Thirteen years later, Antoinette is still receiving care with the rheumatology team. She gets monthly infusions in the clinic and daily injections at home along with daily oral medication.
“Without the persistence of the Nationwide Children’s staff, Antoinette's diagnosis and treatments could have been delayed,” shares Antoinette’s dad, Justin. “She would likely have mobility issues.”
In addition to her care at Nationwide Children’s, Antoinette and her family are also part of a natural history study on spondylitis at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.
Today, Antoinette is a junior in High School. She is involved in swimming, choir, musicals, and is very active in her community and church.
