Arthritis pain is unacceptable. Just ask Dakota Boring.
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Dakota, 16, has lived with arthritis pain since he was four years old. He was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome which aided in the diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). After surgery on his right wrist at age five, he was diagnosed with tendinitis and enthesitis seven years later. Enthesitis refers to inflammation of the entheses, the spot where ligaments and muscles attach to bones, causing pain, stiffness and restricted joint movement.
“I have to take it one day at a time, never knowing how I will feel each day,” Dakota said.
Despite the daily pain, Dakota is determined to remain positive and courageous. “Having arthritis has made me a stronger person and really opened a window of opportunity and I am thankful for that,” he explained. “Having arthritis has given me the opportunity to go to Camp JRA to live the best week of my life.”
A Camp JRA camper every year since 2005, Dakota described the bond created between campers as something even greater than friendship.
“I love going back to camp for so many reasons beyond belief. The counselors are amazing and all of the staff at camp is truly incredible. Of course, going back and meeting up with friends is another huge part. Most of us only see each other once a year. The relationship with my Camp JRA family is so much closer than my friends from school or baseball. We are all so close and have so much in common. There are always a lot of laughs and the bond is inseparable,” he said.
So it seems only natural that this year Dakota will be a Counselor-in-Training at Camp JRA, located in Millvale, PA. “Everyone at camp has had a huge influence on my life and they are a part of why I want to become a Counselor-in-Training (CIT). CITs are there to look out for younger campers and they have always been a big influence on how camp is run.”
“When I become a counselor, I just want to make a positive impact on the campers and be able to offer as much help as I possibly can. I have learned at camp that there is never enough time to do everything you possibly want to do, but counselors always try to find time to make it happen.”
Dakota’s advice for campers on that first day: “You will feel homesick the first day and night but trust me— once you get to know people you will have friends for a lifetime...You are in the care of some of the best people ever!”
