My name is James Boyd, I am sixteen years old. I three years ago was bitten by some type of insect. I went to my family Doctor to get treated for the infection that had spread, causing my leg to swell and lose most mobility in it. My Doctor happened to go down the wrong path in finding a way to treat my infection causing it to grow. Not being able to find out what exactly was wrong, and doing multiple tests my Doctor was stumped. We then thought we had it, I was diagnosed with Limes Disease, and was treated for it. Finding that the treatment did not work I and my family decided to try and get another opinion. Well we got 4 more opinions about 10 mths later, and was diagnosed and tested for anything you could imagine. Until I came upon a Neurologist who was supose to be checking to see if I had a certain disease or tumor of the brain, and noticed my symtoms and realized that he thought it might be something to do with arthritis. So he sent me to a doctor who specialized in rhuematology. And we found it. I was then 1 and a half years into my journey, and was just getting started. I was diagnosed and treated for Rhuematoid Arthritis and suprisingly the treatment worked. But along with this newly found disease came good and bad days. I had now lost mobility in my leg and hand. But treatment was getting it undercontrol, and physical therapy had brought back slight mobility in my hand and leg. I had already missed a lot of school in the almost 2 year journey, and all avtivity had ceased. I then led my almost normal life, until it flared back up again. This time it got more discouraging but I tried to treck through, and after about 3 mths it was back undercontrol and I was back on my feet for about 4 mths. Then it came back again, I am now struggling with recovering with my last episode, but now I have learned to deal with it in a whole new way. Sitting alone most of the time I have had time to think. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I am also a believer in Jesus Christ. My faith has kept me tough as I have traveled this journey. I always thought through this why is this happening to me, I am suppose to be like all other kids and out having a good time. But instead I am sitting around doing nothing. Then I learned the reason I have what I have. One reason I believe that I have been diagnosed with this disease, is to learn all I can. Not being able to travel up stairs, and go to class. I had to do all of my studying in my schools library. Causing my to get bored. I had always hated to read. But then found that it was the only route out of bordom. I picked up the first book and was hooked. I have now read more books than ever before. I have also learned a great deal from all of this reading. Reading has caused me to open my second door to life. Through reading I have seen that I want to go into the medical field and help those just like I. Through this experience I have woken up and now realized there is more to life than fancy clothes and fancy cars ( though thats not bad! )_ but the real thing that matters is where your going when you die are you going to heaven or hell? I am going to heaven, and my life mission is to show everyone who has said I can not do something that I can. Not by myself, but with the most powerful being in this universe , Jesus Christ. You can to, just as I have and strive to do every day. I challenge you all to wake up now, and learn that there's more to life than living for yourself. Take that chance, go read that book. live your life to the fullest!
--James