Hi everyone, my name is Hannah Gordon. I was diagnosed with arthritis at the beginning of seventh grade (2007), but we think I’ve had it since I was about seven. What I have is called Enthesitis. It is an inflammation of the entheses, the location where a bone has junction to a tendon or a ligament. It’s usually found in preschool-aged children.

My parents and I knew something was wrong when I started complaining of ankle and knee pains in second grade. We went to the doctor time and time again, but we kept getting the same answer: she’s just growing. Well I was, but growing wasn’t the monster that was destroying me. I would get up in the morning and barely be able to walk. My mom described it as, “watching a 90-year-old man walk.”

It wasn’t until September 2007 that my doctor finally sent me to Children’s Hospital. We met a wonderful lady named Dr. Elizabeth Shaw. We were talking to her for no more than 10 minutes when she nodded and said, “I think I know what you have.” We spent five years looking for answers, and it took her just 10 minutes to figure out what had been secretly destroying me. After being diagnosed, I started visiting Children’s Hospital every three months. It’s been tough, but I have been doing well enough.

I am now 14 years old and live in Bothell. I have lots of great friends who support me, and I love them for that. I enjoy singing, playing piano, drawing, writing, and hanging out with my friends. I’m pretty much a normal kid, just a little different.

I am looking forward to the Jingle Bell Run this year! I hope to teach others that arthritis can affect anyone. My message to everyone is that a little hope goes a long way. I am so excited to be given the opportunity to be the Honoree. I hope I will inspire you to join the Jingle Bell Run & Walk. Let’s fight this monster, and destroy it as it has destroyed so many out there.