02/11/2026
Meet Mackenzie:
One snowy January night, when Mackenzie was just 3, she came to her mom crying that her leg hurt. Her knee was suddenly swollen, and in that moment, their world changed.
What followed were endless appointments, tests, and fear as we watched our little girl struggle to walk, needing help just to get out of bed. Eventually, we heard the words we never expected: juvenile arthritis. Treatment decisions were overwhelming, but all we wanted was for her to walk, play, and be a carefree kid again.
The road hasn’t been easy—multiple medications, injections, infusions, eye inflammation, and new hurdles along the way—but Mackenzie never stopped being brave. With the right care team and treatments, her arthritis and uveitis are now controlled, and today she’s doing what she loves most: running, playing sports, and being a kid.
Along this journey, the Arthritis Foundation became more than a resource—it became family. What began as fear and uncertainty turned into community, hope, and lifelong support.
We are forever grateful, and we’ll keep fighting for awareness, better treatments, and brighter futures for every child living with juvenile arthritis. 💙 Click the link below to join my team, donate as well as get to know more about Six Hearts - One Joint Mission 💙🩷💙❤️💙🩵 6🩵1💪🏼🤝
https://events.arthritis.org/participants/402244