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Saintsation Ashlyn Discusses Living with Juvenile
Saintsation Ashlyn Discusses Living with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Reprinted from Arthritis Today Magazine, NewOrleansSaints.com
Sunday, August 26, 2007 - 9:00 AM
'My Ticket to the World’
Being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at the tender age of 18 months to some may seem a life sentence. But what started with a recommended dance class to treat my condition proved to be my ticket to the world.
At the time I was diagnosed, New Orleans did not have a board-certified pediatric rheumatologist. Monthly visits to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston were necessary. My arthritis required surgery, medicine, physical therapy and many trips to physicians, specialists, therapists and nutritionists. Angry, tired, depressed, mad at the world—I was wondering, “Why me?”
On a recommendation from my physical therapist, my mother enrolled me in a ballet class. When I started, first position would test my dexterity; a plie was next to impossible. Perseverance paid off: bending and stretching gave me range of motion I could not achieve with only physical therapy.
My doctors were impressed with my progress and recommended more dance. The results were phenomenal. By conditioning my body through dance, I built a foundation of support. Weak muscles became strong and mobility improved. While my arthritis isn’t in remission, a combination of medication and therapy along with aerobic exercise and dance became my course for the future, and my escape. I could concentrate on something other than my arthritis.
When college approached, a friend convinced me to try out for the New Orleans Saintsations—the professional dance team of the New Orleans Saints. After weeks of tryouts, countless auditions, callbacks, tests, interviews and frazzled nerves, contestant number 65—me!—made the cut. The little girl with crooked, swollen legs had now danced her way into the National Football League’s professional sorority. My goal had become an accomplishment.
Ashlyn
Destrehan, La.
Reflections: ‘A Hurricane Couldn’t Keep Us Down’
Ashlyn’s first season with the Saintsations began with a preseason performance in the Superdome on August 26, 2005. Three days later, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Ashlyn writes: “Our team stayed together in spite of the losses suffered and performed throughout the season. We all drew from our strength and traveled to New York, San Antonio, Baton Rouge and the United Kingdom to represent the people, the city and the spirit of New Orleans and Louisiana. Our team motto was faith. If hurricanes and devastation couldn’t keep the Saintsations or the people of Louisiana down, arthritis was not going to keep me down either.”
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