Danny Schromen, 31

When I was three years old my mother worked nights and when she came home from work she found my dad upset and asked what was wrong. He replied that I was up all night with terrible pains in my ankles. I was taken to a hospital in Dubuque, Iowa (my hometown) but soon moved to UIHC in Iowa City, Iowa. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Over the next many months, it spread throughout my body until I was ultimately diagnosed with JRA in 98% of my body.

I was fortunate to attend an accessible elementary school starting in first grade. For the next 5 years, I was embedded in classes with student who didn't have a disability. At the school, there were only about five students who were disabled and used a wheelchair. At that time, I used the wheelchair because I could only stand for maybe two minutes without getting sore and tired.

In the third grade, I had my first operation. It was a procedure to remove a bone from my right foot. I missed some school and was home schooled. It was hard leaving and missing my friends and dealing with a cast for some months. After I was able to attend school again I had to wear a leg brace that bothered me. I already knew I was different, but with a leg brace it made it even more evident.

My operation while I was in the fourth grade proved to be an operation that made my life harder for many years to come. I had both of my femurs broken and set due to the fact I was not straightening my knees when I walked. Again, I spent many months in a cast but this time it was from my toes to my hips. Missing school this time wasn't as hard; I was beginning to be a pro at home schooling. One thing I will never forget was when my mom loaded me into the car and took me to school for a surprise visit and when my teacher saw me, she ran and kissed and hugged me. I was embarrassed!

Upon returning to school, and after recovering, I was changed. From then on, I could no longer walk like my peers; I walked like a soldier, not able to bend my knees. I really had a problem with the way I walked, but my friends and others understood. I did get stared at and pointed and laughed at but I just tried to ignore them. Little did I know that the rest of my life I would have to endure more ignorant people.

When I was in the 6th grade my eyesight got worse and I had to get and wear glasses. I was told by my ophthalmologist that my JRA had affected my eyes. I didn't know that it could affect someone's eyesight but it did. In 1996, a year after I graduated from high school. I had cataract surgery done in Iowa City. Even after the operation and some laser treatments the eyesight in my right eye is pretty much nonexistent. I can only see some blurred colors through my right eye.

Junior high was really rough on me because I was attending a school with people with disabilities and going to one that emerged many schools. It was here that I got many students who stared at me like I had four arms.

I feel that because of the elementary school I attended that those students who joined me in junior high and high school knew me well therefore didn't like to see others stare and make fun of me. You could tell the students who went to the other schools with me; they respected me and knew I was just like them and just moved differently.

Since 1998, my life has changed dramatically, for the better. Technology is something that some fear, but for me, I love it. I began having major problems in my left hip when I began my first semester at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Iowa City is also home of the main hospital I have received a majority of my care throughout my metamorphosis. I had my left hip replaced in Iowa City at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. (UIHC)  Soon after recovery, my right hip began to be the main source of awful pain, pain that reminded me of how my left one felt. The following year I had that hip replaced with the same surgeon/orthopedist. With both hips replaced I was able to not have pain when I walked or just simply moved.

In the spring of 2000, I had my right elbow replaced at UIHC. My elbow, like my hips, had been so destroyed from my JRA that they were just bone on bone making it very painful to bend. Also my range of motion in that elbow was getting so bad that I was having to eat everything with a fork. It is not all that much fun to eat a sandwich with a fork or chips. That replacement really helped me emotionally and physically. It really bothered me to go eat with friends and family and even more if I went to a restaurant.

Back when I was in elementary school, my left elbow fused. It was getting harder to bed it until one day it totally fused. At the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota I had my left elbow replaced. I wasn't having much pain like I had had with my right elbow. I had already spoken with my surgeon who replaced my right elbow but he didn't think it would do any good to replace it due to the lack of using it over many years. I had found a surgeon from a seminar I went to here in my hometown, contacted him and I went up and met him. He didn't promise me anything and I knew the chances. However as of right now and back to the day it is still fused.

In 2005, I decided to change Rheumatologists. The new physician was kinder, and he listened to me and gave me options instead of telling me what to do and treating like a child. My doctor decided to try out something different to battle my arthritis; however he allowed me to research two different drugs and make my own decision at my next appointment. After intensive research on my part through the Internet, I decided to try Remicade.

September 2006 was first infusion of Remicade. Honestly I was a little nervous, anxious and scared. I had read the side effects thoroughly and knew that not all medications help everyone but I tried to remain optimistic.

Over the next seven months, my sedrate level lowered dramatically to a normal level. I also could feel a little more energy. The most positive aspect was the fact that my all together stiffness diminished. It was around this time in the doctors' office for another infusion that my doctor asked me what joints bother me the most. The answer to him was easy, my knees. Even with my new hips I could only stand up (not walking) for maybe two minutes tops without my knees becoming extremely painful. I could maybe walk for four minutes before I had to take a seat. Just like my past three replacements, I scheduled an appointment in Iowa City (UIHC) with the same surgeon who replaced both of my hips. X-rays showed the same problem as my hips and elbows, that my bones were grinding on one another. I had no cartilage left therefore it made it bone on bone when I moved.

My surgeon asked me how soon I wanted it done, it didn't take me long to tell him ASAP. He then asked if I wouldn't mind having them both done at the same time. I agreed and did some research on the web to see how hard recovery would be and what it would consist of. From what I read and heard from others was that it was a painful and tough recovery but I felt I was up to the test (or up for it). We scheduled the operation for June 29th 2007. I got myself ready emotionally and physically just like I had done for my many other operations.

I received a phone call from my surgeon's personal nurse a month or so before the operation was to take place. The nurse called to explain to me that the surgeon wasn't so sure I should have both knees done at the same time. What could I say to her, so I told her lets do what he feels is best. She explained then that about six weeks after the first knee replacement then the second would be done.

I lucked out, two weeks before the first operation the nurse called again to tell me that the surgeon decided to allow me to make the decision he would be alright with replacing both the same day. I didn't hesitate I wanted them done the same day, no way I wanted to go through two different recoveries.

On Friday, June 29th 2007, I went in early in the morning and had both of my knees replaced. I will never forget the day because I remember being let out of recovery and into my room where id spend the next four days. As I laid in that bed my Dad put the Cubs game on and in the bottom of the ninth with two outs Aramiz Ramirez hit a game winning three run homerun against the Brewers to end the game, it was as if it were scripted just for me.

Once I was released from UIHC, I had to stay in a rehab facility here in Dubuque since I lived alone in my apartment. I lived and got moving a little better for 8 days before I was released to come home. My 19-year-old brother, Ryan, came and lived with me for the next two months to help me.

He helped with many things but the main was to drive me to physical therapy here in Dubuque everyday for a couple weeks then it was cut to three times a week. There I learned how not push myself just enough to a certain point. I also used my time at P.T. to gain more strength and muscle for my new knees. After two months of P.T. I graduated and didn't have to return. I went from Ryan pushing me into P.T. in a wheelchair to walking with me while I used a cane to just walking next to me. I wasn't allowed to drive until a little over ten weeks after the operation.

Since last October/November, my life has changed in so many ways. On November 3rd of last year I bought myself a pedometer and began to keep track each day of my steps, how much of a mile I walked and I also gave myself a grade for the day. I haven't missed a single day since the day I started. I have although had to get a new pedometer due to clipping it on and off each and everyday.

Prior to my replacements of my knees I would be happy/thrilled with maybe 500 steps a day. On November 10th of last year I set a high of over 8,000 steps in one day. It was due to the fact my step-sister got married and I attended the ceremony and the reception so I was on my feet a lot, even dancing.

Before my new knees I used my manual wheelchair pretty much whenever I left my apartment and sometimes I would use my electric chair in my apartment. When I wasn't using either chair I had my trusty cane I have used for the past 5 years or so. As of now my wheelchairs sit idle, I look at them everyday because my manual chair is in the backseat of my car and my electric sits in a corner of my apartment. They are now just mainly collecting dust. Even though I am doing so much better than I ever dreamed I know things can get worse so I will never let go of my chairs. 

I have not only shocked myself, but my parents and friends are ecstatic at how much better I walk and move. Also how my spirits overall have changed due to all of the replacements. I have even taken up a new sport, tennis. I got myself a racquet and found a park here in Dubuque that I can keep a volley going off a tall wooden board. Due to the fact my left elbow is still fused I can still keep a volley going pretty well. I also love walk now, its so much fun to be able to walk with family and friends instead of being pushed in a chair or even using my cane.

On May 17th of this past year I actually for the first time in my life walked a full mile. Each year I try and make it to the Belvidere/Rockford, Illinois Arthritis Walk. This year I planned to attempt and walk the full mile. With my Mom Linda, and my step father Bob we walked together as a team. I used my manual wheelchair for support, I took a backpack and filled it up with a few books for weight and away I went. I pushed the chair at the pace that was right for me. I did have to take a few breaks for a few puffs on my inhaler but I never once sat down. We walked down and back up Main Street in the town of Belvidere. My mom asked a couple times if I wanted to be pushed the remainder of the walk but I insisted that I was going to make it and I did. When we got about 2/3 of the way back to the start/finish line it dawned on me that I was going to make it.

Once we got back to the community building where the walk began, I stopped next to the finish sign and had my mom take a picture of me standing next to it.  

Even today I honestly can't express all the thoughts and feelings I felt when I had completed the mile. Inside at the awards ceremony I was asked to get up in front of all the people (which I have no problems public speaking) and tell them a little about myself. As I was finished and was going to sit back down at the table where my mom and step dad, Bob, sat I was asked to wait a moment. Vickie Flogel, this sweet woman who is the chairperson of the Arthritis Walk for the Belvidere/Rockford Chapter presented the long Arthritis banner that was signed by everyone who attended, it truly was an awesome gift!

Since the walk I have walked maybe half dozen times around the downtown area of my hometown and tow I currently reside in, Dubuque. I use my chair like I did the day of the mile long walk. Also I volunteer for the High School I graduated from in 1995 as a statistician for the sophomore and varsity football teams. It is so much easier to not have to carry or deal with my manual wheelchair for the games on the road. I also now go up to their field/track and walk a mile around the track, four laps equals a mile. I love the feeling I get each and everyday that I walk.

It's not just the fact I can stand longer but the fact that I am able now to walk and bend my knees at the same time. I no longer walk like Frankenstein or a soldier. I like the fact that I don't get as many people staring at me as they once did. I still move a little different but overall it's a huge metamorphosis.

Like I stated early on, my life has changed dramatically, both emotionally and physically. So many people take the easiest things for granted or don't wonder what its like to have a disability but myself I am a different person and I value the things I am now able to do because of the six replacement operations that I have endured. My life will never be the same and I am glad and truly proud of myself.

More Stories