Kodi Smith

Living with arthritis has changed my life...  My name is Kodi Smith and I'm 15 years old and have been living with arthritis for the past three years. How it all started...after returning home from a family vacation, I became very sick.  At first I was treated for salmonella food poisoning and H pylori, which at the time we thought was my only medical issue.

But soon the sick DAYS turned into WEEKS...  Loosing 20+ pounds, being unable to walk because my joints had become so swollen, and not being able to attend school, were all side effects of my arthritis (which still hadn't been diagnosed).    After many doctor's opinions, testing, and an extensive hospital stay, I was finally given a diagnosis - PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS.

Today, with many medications and injections I live a pretty normal life. Most would never know that I have arthritis, but if they only knew what "normal" is for me.

Every summer I attend an Arthritis Foundation sponsored camp just for kids with arthritis. Here I have formed many lifelong friendships. These are friends who know WHAT I feel and HOW I feel. During these past three years I feel I have been blessed in ways other kids my age will never experience. Always be thankful for what you have. Praise God for everything that is given to you. And when you are down, there is no one like your family and friends. 

My parents and I have to thank our local Arthritis Foundation chapter for many things: scholarships for camp, support when you need someone to talk to, raising awareness through events like the Arthritis Walk, and networking; to meet other families who are going through the same situations as we are. At times you feel so alone, but with our Arthritis Foundation support, we always have someone to count on.