FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — It can be tough for some teenagers who suddenly find themselves hundreds of miles from home in a strange town on a college campus with tens of thousands of strangers.
For one young University of Arkansas student who has spent years battling a bizarre diagnosis and the pain that’s come with it, her campus of strangers has felt like she’s on an island all by herself.
“It’s been a struggle to get out of bed and get moving every day,” explained University of Arkansas student, 20-year-old Brooke Garner, who was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
She’s undergone at least a dozen surgeries through the years, including a complete jaw replacement, as she and her parents have navigated this rare diagnosis.
“It was a rough surgery but worth it,” said Brooke, pointing to hardly noticeable scars on the backside of both ears.
“I woke up for the first time in two years without a migraine.”
Brooke’s long medical trial first began with scarlet fever when she was just three years old. After numerous doctor visits and countless years of joint pain and almost daily migraines, they finally received the arthritis diagnosis.
“I get so confused,” continued Brooke.
“Why me? It is so weird that it’s my joints and trying to explain this to people.”
Doctors eventually identified an autoimmune disease as the gateway that swung the door wide open for a host of medical issues.
Brooke eventually decided to get in front of this rare diagnosis by joining forces with the Arthritis Foundation. She’s been named an honoree for this Sunday’s Jingle Bell 5K Run at Lake Fayetteville. She also formed a fundraising team named the “Jaw Breakers.”
Her team gained an unexpected teammate about a year ago after a chance meeting inside the Phi Mu house on campus. While attending a philanthropic presentation, Brooke was stunned when one of the speakers was a fellow student who said she had also been diagnosed with JRA.
Brooke reached out to Emma Schmich with a direct message on Instagram the next day.
“I cried,” recalled Emma.
“I took a screenshot of it and texted my parents and said, ‘There is a girl at school going through the same thing I went through,’” she continued excitedly.
Practically overnight, Brooke’s medical island of one doubled in population.
And Emma couldn’t be any happier to share that island with her new friend, Brooke.
“It made me feel thankful that there is someone else who is going through the same thing I was going through who understands what it’s like to be a little scared while going to a big university like this.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
