Walk Strong Houston

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Time: Registration begins at 9:00 a.m.

Location: Camden Park - Westchase

2951 Wilcrest Dr., Houston, TX 77042

RSVP Here!

https://forms.gle/osaZoVFuSjgBUWfh6

Caroline was diagnosed with JDM in 2024 when she was only 2 years old. For Caroline, the disease can present like arthritis, muscle weakness, and skin rashes. We have now been on treatment for about two years. 

Thankfully Caroline has responded well to treatment. She only had to be on steroids for a few months, but she has been on weekly methotrexate injections for the whole two years. We tried to wean her off of the methotrexate (mtx) in January this year, but had a setback and now our goal is to try to wean her off next January. While we are very thankful for the medication that she is able to take to help her stay healthy, we want more for Caroline. 

As you can imagine, administering a shot every week to a toddler has been terrible. And the idea of my baby being on a harsh medication like methotrexate (a chemotherapy drug) long term is scary. 

Another thing we have to consider as a JDM family is the sun/uv rays. We have to use uv protection clothing (long sleeves, pants, big hat) and use sunscreen constantly because uv rays can cause a disease flare. We try not to go outside between 10am-5pm and stay out of the sun if uv rays are above 5, which is pretty tricky here in Texas. And what we have noticed most of all for Caroline, is that a simple virus or cold can really get her down. We are very lucky that she is able to attend preschool and run and play like other kids! You probably wouldn’t know that she’s dealing with this terrible disease. 

Many JDM kids are struggling to get healthy even with current medication and are constantly in and out of the hospital. Kids should not have to deal with this. While we are so grateful for modern medicine, we still want more for our JDM kids. 

I’m hoping and praying for a cure for Caroline. I want her to have a healthy, pain-free life without the burden of constant medication and having to hide from the sun. 

I really thought that Caroline would go into full remission by now, but I’m starting to come to terms with the fact that she may be dealing with this disease her entire life unless we find a cure. Thank you for supporting us along this journey 💙

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