Tag Archives: advocate for arthritis

Bella Sorensen Rheumatoid Arthritis

Bella’s Journey: Arthritis Means a Family Must Adjust to the Disease, Too

Bella Sorensen Rheumatoid ArthritisLife is full of unexpected twists and, oftentimes, people define ourselves by how they react to these unforeseen moments. Bella Sorensen’s life was drastically altered at the age of 13 when she was originally diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Bella, now 17, lives with arthritis, but, like many children and teens with arthritis, their families must live with the disease too.

This is Bella’s story—but it’s also her mother’s story to tell as well.

Dorte Sorensen, recalls a time prior to Bella’s diagnosis, “Four years ago, I would have never imagined I would be here talking about my Bella having this horrible disease in the 8th grade as a 13 year-old.”

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One Story Can Change Everything: Visit Gives an Inside Look of the NIH

Lexi Narotzky: National Institutes of Health“Totally amazing!” says 17-year-old Lexi Narotzky.

She’s not talking about her recent prom or even her summer plans to study in California. She’s talking about last week’s visit to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Lexi, who was diagnosed with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at three years old, found her way to the NIH after she shared her story with Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R – NJ) at the Arthritis Foundation’s Advocacy Summit back in March. Struck by her narrative, Frelinghuysen invited Lexi and her entire group to visit the NIH and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) so that they could see firsthand the research that is being done to combat arthritis.
Continue reading One Story Can Change Everything: Visit Gives an Inside Look of the NIH