This Jack of All Trades Is Truly Inspiring

By Anthony Williams | March 10, 2025 

Some days, when his funny bone tickles him, 6-year-old Jack tells his parents he wants to be a comedian when he grows up, perhaps to help cheer up folks who may be sad. On other days, he tells them he’s going to be a landscaper, maybe to help make the world a better and prettier place.

There’s also the side of Jack — already at his young age — that has begun to recognize the power of money, like the benefits of saving money, collecting interest and possibly becoming lucrative. “We tell him that money isn’t the only thing to be concerned about in life,” says Jack’s mother, Teresa, who laughingly adds, “I always say he should be a salesperson because he can get you to do anything that he wants. He’s very persuasive in that way.”

So persuasive, in fact, that we asked Jack and his family, who live in New Jersey, to represent our cause in the Arthritis Foundation’s 2025 Walk to Cure Arthritis, with Jack serving as one of our national honorees. In that role, he and they are sharing their story about the challenges of living with childhood arthritis and how to successfully navigate obstacles like those they’ve encountered. It’s a story of perseverance, becoming more enlightened about the disease, and finding courage — and encouragement — within the arthritis community, to keep on going and make the best of those trials.

Jack doesn’t know life without arthritis. At just 17 months old, he started having constant fevers and swelling in his joints, and he seemed to be in a lot of pain. He couldn’t communicate much at such a young age, but he stopped walking and wanting to be active. That’s when his parents knew something was very wrong. There were numerous hospitalizations and many medical tests. At first, Jack was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, a potentially life-threatening vascular disease. But Kawasaki treatment wasn’t improving his symptoms.

Finally, in early 2020, Jack was correctly diagnosed with the relatively rare systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) and began multiple medications. Today, he’s doing well on his current regimen of a biologic every other week and a weekly infusion to help support his fragile immune system.

“Thanks to his current treatment, Jack is like a regular little boy,” his mother says. “Playing with cars, trucks, video games on his tablet, Legos, Pokemon. He’s running around, playing sports like T-ball and flag football. He loves gym at school, and we’re doing soccer every week. Besides administering the medications and that part of it, everything else for Jack is just like any other little boy.”

We’ve Come a Long Way

Teresa says being able to keep things under control reminds her of how far medical advancements have come. “That’s just mind-blowing to me. Twenty years ago or so, kids suffering from this had to have joint replacements. Today, we don’t see that as much anymore, because now there are these other medical solutions available, thanks to what science has discovered and made possible.”

Jack’s mother credits the Arthritis Foundation with not only playing a pivotal role in making scientific achievements happen over the years, but also in helping her son and their family plot a path forward during their times of uncertainty. “It’s so important to be surrounded by people who have a similar experience as you do. I had no idea where to turn or how I was going to cope with this. Connecting with others through the Foundation has helped us overcome adversity and live normal lives.

“I just can’t say enough good things about the Arthritis Foundation. We have a strong passion for this cause. And it’s nice to connect with like-minded people around us for support. We’re blessed to be part of this community.”

As for Jack and where his head is these days, his mom says he’s wise beyond his years and faces his challenges with such stamina that most adults could learn a lot from his example. “Jack really has that compassion and empathy you don’t usually see in someone his age. About being a Walk to Cure Arthritis honoree at age 6, he told me, ‘Mommy, I want to do this because I want to let people know about this disease and how they can help.’

“He’s quick to understand what it’s like to have a loved one that’s having health issues. Just to see him acknowledge that is the most precious thing. I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Jack’s Mom Has High Hopes

Teresa concludes with these thoughts: “No parent wants to see their child suffer or have hard times. We also know that those are the times that really build character and strength.

“I’m hopeful that this disease and what he has experienced will help Jack with his leadership abilities and his character in the future. He is already a strong little boy. I want him to grow up to continue being strong — and to have all the success in the world that he can have.”