Jessica Saal’s Legacy
A daughter’s spirit drives her family’s passion to improve care for kids with arthritis.
By Allison Wilcosky | August 20, 2025
When Harry and Carol Saal’s daughter, Jessica, was 2 years old, she suddenly wanted to be picked up all the time.
“You could tell something was bothering her, and it was,” Harry shares. “It was not easy to conclude that the cause was juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JA), which affected all of the joints in her body.”
The year was 1972. At the time, there were few treatment options available. Aspirin was the treatment of choice.
“I remember discussing with the rheumatologist treating her and asking how much aspirin to give. The answer was 'Well, you know, take as much as she can until her ears start ringing.’ But she’s 2. How do I know when her ears start ringing?”
As Jessica grew up, she went through many surgeries to have her knees, shoulders and hips replaced.
“The rehab was pretty grueling, but she always had a smile on, always made the most of the situation,” Harry remembers. And when Jessica went through these surgeries, the Saal family wasn’t alone.
“Thanks to the Arthritis Foundation, there was good outreach to families in these kinds of situations,” he says. “There were family day events, where we got to meet with doctors, physicians and researchers to discuss what was available, to get tips about dealing with day-to-day challenges and limitations of arthritis.”
Jessica became more involved with the Northern California chapter of the Arthritis Foundation as she entered young adulthood, convening her own group of young adults who were going through the same reality.
She also threw her support into helping organize Camp Milagros, a sleepaway camp for kids with JA that still operates today in Northern California.
When Jessica passed away unexpectedly in 2004 at the age of 34, the family stepped in to carry on her legacy.
“Jessica was not going to let things get in her way,” Harry says. “She was a very motivated person. She knew what the challenges were and was motivated to roll up her sleeves and deal with it. After she passed, I became personally involved and joined the board of our chapter in Northern California.”
When Harry and Carol Saal’s daughter, Jessica, was 2 years old, she suddenly wanted to be picked up all the time.
“You could tell something was bothering her, and it was,” Harry shares. “It was not easy to conclude that the cause was juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JA), which affected all of the joints in her body.”
The year was 1972. At the time, there were few treatment options available. Aspirin was the treatment of choice.
“I remember discussing with the rheumatologist treating her and asking how much aspirin to give. The answer was 'Well, you know, take as much as she can until her ears start ringing.’ But she’s 2. How do I know when her ears start ringing?”
As Jessica grew up, she went through many surgeries to have her knees, shoulders and hips replaced. “The rehab was pretty grueling, but she always had a smile on, always made the most of the situation,” Harry remembers. And when Jessica went through these surgeries, the Saal family wasn’t alone.
“Thanks to the Arthritis Foundation, there was good outreach to families in these kinds of situations,” he says. “There were family day events, where we got to meet with doctors, physicians and researchers to discuss what was available, to get tips about dealing with day-to-day challenges and limitations of arthritis.”
Jessica became more involved with the Northern California chapter of the Arthritis Foundation as she entered young adulthood, convening her own group of young adults who were going through the same reality.
She also threw her support into helping organize Camp Milagros, a sleepaway camp for kids with JA that still operates today in Northern California.
When Jessica passed away unexpectedly in 2004 at the age of 34, the family stepped in to carry on her legacy.
“Jessica was not going to let things get in her way,” Harry says. “She was a very motivated person. She knew what the challenges were and was motivated to roll up her sleeves and deal with it. After she passed, I became personally involved and joined the board of our chapter in Northern California.”
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Fueling Talent, Arthritis Research, and Real Change
When Harry and his family took up Jessica’s efforts, he didn’t want to focus solely on juvenile arthritis (JA). “My own philosophy has been to try and take a multifaceted approach,” he says. “It’s very rewarding. Looking back at how far we’ve come in all these years within the Arthritis Foundation, it’s wonderful. There’s been a strong evolution. We’re very proud to have been part of helping drive and participate in that evolution over the last several decades.”
One of those areas of interest is helping fund pediatric rheumatology fellowships that provide training and mentoring opportunities for medical students and residents from underrepresented communities.
“There was in 1972, and to this very day, a dearth of physicians with a lot of experience in dealing with pediatric cases,” Harry says. “It’s not just finding specialists but having them really understand the appropriate modalities of how to treat a child, how to deal with the family, how to deal with a sibling — you know, all kinds of psychological stresses. There’s so much involved, particularly in young people when they have a disability.”
The need for more rheumatologists is great. Currently, 14 U.S. states have only one or zero pediatric rheumatologists.
“There’s a huge variation in the level of care and the nature of the care available in different parts of the country,” Harry says. “I mean, it’s very difficult, if you’re a parent with a sick child, to go 500 miles to see a pediatric specialist once or twice a year instead of going to an adult physician in your local community hospital. There are still many pockets in the U.S. that have no pediatric rheumatologists. Or imagine, even if there is a pediatric rheumatologist, it’s 500 miles away in your state.”
One recent recipient of a fellowship through Stanford University and the Saal Family Foundation is Amanda Moyer, MD. After her fellowship, she will work with Oklahoma Children's Hospital OU Health to develop and build a pediatric rheumatology department. Dr. Moyer plans to remain in academic medicine and will be starting as Interim Chief of Pediatric Rheumatology, Director of Pediatric Rheumatology, and Assistant Professor.
“We’re excited to see folks like Amanda make the decision to go to a rural community and provide pediatric rheumatic support and be involved in research,” Harry says. Then adds, “We’re nowhere near the finish line in terms of the number of pediatric rheumatologists needed, and filling in all the gaps across the country.”
A Legacy Continued by the Next Generation
Jessica and the rest of the Saal family have had an indelible impact on the Arthritis Foundation over the years, and the family plans to continue their involvement for generations to come.
“Our first mission was to involve … Jessica and our son Nathaniel in our foundation. The next level [is] our grandchildren. We’re getting them involved and participating in our decision making,” Harry explains, “They’re fearless … to step in and do what is clearly the right thing. They get it,” he adds.
Harry believes Jessica would be proud of the efforts their family has made in her stead. “While Jessica is no longer with us, I’m sure she’s looking down, smiling and giving a big thumbs-up,” Harry says.
When Harry and his family took up Jessica’s efforts, he didn’t want to focus solely on juvenile arthritis (JA). “My own philosophy has been to try and take a multifaceted approach,” he says. “It’s very rewarding. Looking back at how far we’ve come in all these years within the Arthritis Foundation, it’s wonderful. There’s been a strong evolution. We’re very proud to have been part of helping drive and participate in that evolution over the last several decades.”
One of those areas of interest is helping fund pediatric rheumatology fellowships that provide training and mentoring opportunities for medical students and residents from underrepresented communities.
“There was in 1972, and to this very day, a dearth of physicians with a lot of experience in dealing with pediatric cases,” Harry says. “It’s not just finding specialists but having them really understand the appropriate modalities of how to treat a child, how to deal with the family, how to deal with a sibling — you know, all kinds of psychological stresses. There’s so much involved, particularly in young people when they have a disability.”
The need for more rheumatologists is great. Currently, 14 U.S. states have only one or zero pediatric rheumatologists. “There’s a huge variation in the level of care and the nature of the care available in different parts of the country,” Harry says. “I mean, it’s very difficult, if you’re a parent with a sick child, to go 500 miles to see a pediatric specialist once or twice a year instead of going to an adult physician in your local community hospital. There are still many pockets in the U.S. that have no pediatric rheumatologists. Or imagine, even if there is a pediatric rheumatologist, it’s 500 miles away in your state.”
One recent recipient of a fellowship through Stanford University and the Saal Family Foundation is Amanda Moyer, MD. After her fellowship, she will work with Oklahoma Children's Hospital OU Health to develop and build a pediatric rheumatology department. Dr. Moyer plans to remain in academic medicine and will be starting as Interim Chief of Pediatric Rheumatology, Director of Pediatric Rheumatology, and Assistant Professor.
“We’re excited to see folks like Amanda make the decision to go to a rural community and provide pediatric rheumatic support and be involved in research,” Harry says. Then adds, “We’re nowhere near the finish line in terms of the number of pediatric rheumatologists needed, and filling in all the gaps across the country.”
A Legacy Continued by the Next Generation
Jessica and the rest of the Saal family have had an indelible impact on the Arthritis Foundation over the years, and the family plans to continue their involvement for generations to come.
“Our first mission was to involve … Jessica and our son Nathaniel in our foundation. The next level [is] our grandchildren. We’re getting them involved and participating in our decision making,” Harry explains, “They’re fearless … to step in and do what is clearly the right thing. They get it,” he adds.
Harry believes Jessica would be proud of the efforts their family has made in her stead. “While Jessica is no longer with us, I’m sure she’s looking down, smiling and giving a big thumbs-up,” Harry says.
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