Did you see our Weatherkid on TV this morning? This is our second week and both have been great. 8 year old Ginny was cute as a button and soooo smart. She's a great speller, she's earned a purple belt in karate and on her farm she helps to care for twenty... something animals!!! Wowsa!!! She wants to be a Veterinarian when she grows up. I know she's going to do spectacular.
So while our viewers got to know a little bit about Ginny in our short time on the air, even were able to hear one of her weather jokes... cute and funny, I want to add just how remarkable I think this young girl is. Ginny has fought her way back from a very rare disease called Juvenile Dermatomyositis. As her mom explains it, Ginny's immune system was attacking her muscles and skin, causing her pain and weakness to the point that Ginny could not dress herself or at times climb onto her own bed. According to Ginny's mom, their doctor, at the time, chalked it up to growing pains. Thankfully one of Ginny's nurses took note and referred her to a doctor that got her the help she needed. Kudos to the nurse who didn't give this sweet young girl and her family the brush off. Because Ginny was finally diagnosed properly, she's made her way back to good health. I've personally known Ginny for just one day, but I want to say to Ginny's nurse, Thank You... really though, Thank You.
Again Juvenile Dermatomyositis is a rare autoimmune disease that reportedly manifests itself in children. According to one report I read, it affects 3 children per million per year in the U.S.
Symptoms include a pinkish purple rash that often affects the face, eyelids and hands.. and sometimes the skin above joints, including the knuckles. A second symptom is muscle inflammation.