Sydney Hendrixson is 13 and was diagnosed with epilepsy and JRA in 2008 after years of suffering unexplainable pains in her joints and jaw. Being diagnosed with arthritis helped explain her pains and began her road to recovery. Sydney fights arthritis by faithfully taking her medication, staying active and keeping a positive outlook on life. "I don't like to talk about my arthritis a lot. I like to think of myself as "without" it. I try to just live every day that way. When they told me I should walk the mile at school, I said I would rather try to run it. When they told me I could use a typewriter for my notes in class, I said I would like to keep writing with a pen." 

Her perseverance and determination is an inspiration for all of us. Sydney appears to be a normal teenager truly "without" arthritis. She enjoys singing, ice-skating and photography. On the weekends she makes movies with her friends and always has a sleepover. She keeps active by dancing for the Philly Platinum All-Star Dancers and recently danced at Madison Square Garden in New York City. She is blessed with the support of her many friends who helped her raise money for the Foundation at her middle school's holiday chorus last year. When her arthritis flares she takes it slower and rests but her enthusiasm always remains high. 

"The only time I got down is when I went to my last doctor's appointment and he told me I was going to have to get injections! This scared me because I am really afraid of needles. I want to work hard for a cure so that someday kids like me will never be in pain and never have to be scared."