By WARREN DILLAWAY
Staff Writer
MADISON TOWNSHIP - - The chance to help a fellow student led members of the Madison High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes to organize a fundraiser to help a junior fighting reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
Erikka Elsbury, 17, was diagnosed with the rare disease five years ago when she was afflicted with extreme pain in her arm.
"She went to a lot of doctors locally that were unfamiliar with the disease. She had several MRI's and a bone scan," said her mother, Linda . She was diagnosed seven weeks later with RSD and treatment was started.
The disease is very painful and includes swelling of limbs.
"We went to an orthopedic doctor at Cleveland Clinic and he immediately knew," Linda Elsbury said.
A "nerve block" was administered that reduced the pain significantly for an extended period of time. "They kind of inject pain reliever into a sympathetic nerve," Erikka Elsbury said.
"After I got the blocks I was able to move my hand. I was able to live a somewhat normal life. Three years later I twisted my right ankle and it came back there (in her leg)," Erikka Elsbury said.
After another "blocker" she was able to continue with her life and even join the swim team. "In January I smashed the finger in my car and it came back," she said.
For the last 2 1/2 months, she has been tutored at home and just returned to school last week.
"I really just want to get the awareness out there. I know people who it took you to digging and they are worse off for it," Elsbury said.
She said a support group on the Internet has been helpful in dealing with the painful disease.
"It's nice to talk with other people who are going through the same thing you are doing," Elsbury said.
Taylor Pniewski, one of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes advisers at Madison High School, said the dinner will be 5 to 9 p.m. April 30 at the Wagon Wheel in Madison Township with take out or eat in spaghetti dinners for $7.
"They (fellow students) decided we should try and do something for her. She's been one of the core people in our group," he said.
Star Beacon Print Edition: 4/23/2007
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