Brayden Gerald Bernhardt


Brayden is two years old and was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Artritis on April 25, 2015 by his a rheumatologist is Syracuse, NY. One morning Brayden woke up, got out of bed, took one step and collapsed to the floor while crying. At first I thought that his leg was asleep or had a cramp because as I observed him it did not seem to be broken. This was an ongoing problem for about two weeks every morning and afternoon when he awoke from his naps. I then scheduled him an appointment with his pediatrician where they did bloodwork and x-rays. His X-rays did not show anything wrong and his bloodwork was normal except for his ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies) count was drastically high. We were then referred to a pediatric orthopedic in Syracuse. Before we went to see her Brayden ended up in the ER with a 104.6 fever and was lethargic. They were able to get his fever down after hours spent there and were sent home with a "viral illness". We went to see the orthopedic where more bloodwork was drawn and confirmed that this was either arthritis or lupus. We were then referred to a pediatric rheumatologist in Syracuse, Dr. Hannan who is still currently treating Brayden. After the exam, the doctor ordered that Brayden be started on medication for his diagnosis of JRA of the left knee and left ankle and was seeing Brayden every two months to monitor the swelling and fluid build up in his left leg. Brayden did well for a while on naproxen but our visit in September didn't show good results so the doctor set up an aspiration and steroid injection for the following week. September 18th we were admitted to Upstate Medical Hospital where Brayden was put under anesthesia and had the fluid retracted from his knee as well as two steroid injections, one above and one below the knee cap. Brayden reacted well to the procedure and we had a follow up appointment to check the progression. As of right now his JRA has spread to his right knee with some fluid build up and major swelling. Brayden also travels to Syracuse every 3 months for an eye exam to check for inflammation of the eye due to his type of arthritis causing blindness if it spreads to the eyes. Brayden's medication was also switched in September to meloxicam due to the naproxen not working for him anymore. We just recently visited both doctors on December 9th and our next visit is in February. We are traveling back and forth to Syracuse every other month. He suffers on a daily basis with soreness, swelling and inflammation of both legs. He wakes up in the night crying and sometimes with complaints, "mommy me hurt". He was last in the ER back in August with another 104 fever. We have to pay very close attention to high fevers and worsening of his legs due to "flare ups" which can cause more damage.

 

 

 
 

   

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