Hi! My name is Donna Fox and I reside in the beautiful state of Kentucky. My introduction to arthritis was in 1970 at the not-so-old age of 4! After several mysterious symptoms I was diagnosed with scleroderma and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Having JRA from head to toe has made life interesting and challenging. I decided early in life to rise to the challenges. " I had arthritis BUT arthritis would never have me." Despite many medication rituals, therapies, and multiple surgeries, I have learned courage, strength, tolerance, patience, determination and how to smile in the face of adversity. Each of these traits prepared me for further challenges, including Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and most recently colon cancer. Both of which I have overcome.

The absolute greatest blessing resulting from my having arthritis has been finding my arthritis family. I was alone in the arthritis world until 1998 when I was blessed to attend a juvenile arthritis conference. It was at this event I met many of the Arthritis Introspective Board members. Friends I have have found because of arthritis are the truest friends anyone could want.

As a support leader I hope, through AI, you can find support and friends that can bring  to your life what my arthritis buds have brought to mine.

"Hang tight & Hang tough"
~Donna~