A young boy with JRA shares his story. He is one of Johnny Sandusky's friends.
My name is Colton Blue. I am 12 1/2 years old. I live with my mom and pop and younger sister Cinnamon, here in Tennessee, in Nashville.
I am in the sixth grade at Morningside Academy School, which is a school for kids who happen to have disabillities. I am disabled myself: I have arthritis that causes my joints to hurt, and it causes me to have problems with my walking. I use forearm crutches to walk. I have had this disease ever since I can remember.
My best friends are Rico Terzas, Jose' Varquez, and Johnny Sandusky. Rico and Johnny are in some of my classes, but Jose' goes to a different school. I still see Jose' on the weekends. We (Johnny, Jose', Rico, and myself) hang out together. We go to each other's places and play video games or watch stupid cartoons all afternoon or have burping contests.
When I am not in the hospital due to surgery or a flare (when my arthritis is at its worst; I have severe pain, and I get sick to my stomach, and I throw up; it is NOT fun AT all!), I like to play video games, watch the shows on Nikolodeon (my favorite shows on there are "Spongebob Squarepants", "The Fairly Odd Parents", "Rugrats", "All Grown Up" [a "Rugrats" sequel, if you will; the "Rugrats" gang are now teenagers], and "Corneil and Beriie", about a boy and his talking dog. I also like "Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius", "The Angry Beavers", and "My Dad, The Rock Star"), reaad mystery or detective stories, watch football or baseball on tv, write stories, and collect action figure toys. I also like trading Poke'man cards.
I don't know why mom and pop gave Cinnamon and myself such kooky names, but that is our names, and we have to get used to it. As I said earlier, my name is Colton, while my sister's is Cinnamon. My full name happens to be Colton Reese Blue, and my sister (she is four) is named Cinnamon Rose Blue. I used to be teased about my name, kids would ask me if my parents were horses becaus they said my name sounded more suited for a horse. It hurt my feelings, and I still remember the sting of the tears in my eyes as the kids picked on me. They also picked on me about my arthritis, and they just don't understand all of the pain that I have to live with day in and day out!
If they could live for one day in my shoes, I bet they would NOT like it AT all. Maybe then they would understand that my illness is NOT fake, and that I DO have a real problem that causes me pain and trouble with my walking! They think that I use crutches or a chair for attention, but I DON'T. I just don't get around well is all, and I need a little help!
Well, I will write in here again. This is Colton Blue signing off! 'Bye!
~Colton Blue, aged 12 1/2, kid with JRA (that's Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis to you. I have the systemic, or severe, form.).
What's in a name, an awful lot....it epitomises who we are, and gives us a sense of identity in the world
We learn and grow from all our experiences, even tough ones, and we must never succumb to other peoples's barbs and provocations Karen
Well defined and crafted story
Love
Peter
