Arthritis can’t douse boy’s firefighting dreams

Tim Forsberg
Posted 11/18/14

Six-year-old Ethan Gustafson of Warwick wants to be a firefighter someday and is out to prove that juvenile arthritis won’t stop him.

Thanks to the Warwick Fire Department and the Arthritis …

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Arthritis can’t douse boy’s firefighting dreams

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Six-year-old Ethan Gustafson of Warwick wants to be a firefighter someday and is out to prove that juvenile arthritis won’t stop him.

Thanks to the Warwick Fire Department and the Arthritis Foundation, Ethan enjoyed a special tour of Fire Station One in Apponaug last Thursday in support of his battle against arthritis.

An active first grader who enjoys rollerblading and playing hockey, Ethan was diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis when he was only three years old. His condition is an autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system malfunctions and attacks the body's organs and tissues. This particular form affects about 10 percent of children with arthritis and begins with repeating high fevers that are often accompanied by rashes. Symptoms also include the inflammation of the internal organs and joints, causing severe pain.

Doctors typically treat this form of arthritis with pain medications and physical therapy. Affected children must rest frequently, especially when they are experiencing symptoms.

Ethan is this year’s youth honoree for the Arthritis Foundation’s upcoming Jingle Bell Run and Walk, a holiday-themed fundraiser to help find a cure for arthritis. In preparing for the event, the team at the Foundation was told Ethan someday hopes to become a firefighter. Looking to do something special for Ethan, the Foundation contacted the Warwick Fire Department to see if they could arrange a special tour of a fire station for Ethan. They not only agreed but went a step further.

“This is great, the firefighters love doing things for little guys and girls, anything we can to help them out,” said Chief Edmund Armstrong. “It’s something Ethan will always remember for the rest of his life. He’s always wanted to be a firefighter, so today is something we hope he cherishes.”

Ethan’s tour included climbing and exploring the rescue vehicles, taking a ride on a fire truck, wearing and using fire equipment, spraying a fire hose and asking a slew of questions to the dozens of firefighters who stopped by for the event. Ethan also received a department t-shirt and hockey jersey.

“This is what life is all about, trying to help kids,” said Aaron Guckian, member of the Rhode Island Arthritis Foundation Leadership Council, during the tour. “The Warwick Fire Department really stepped up, the chief was really supportive and said he could do this, which is great.”

While Ethan ran from bay to bay checking out all the different fire equipment, Tara Gordon, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Arthritis Foundation New England Region, underscored the importance of the awareness Ethan’s condition creates.

“Although Ethan’s trip to the fire station is truly a special one, the Arthritis Foundation is able to help families and the other 300,000 kids in the U.S. with arthritis by providing family days, camperships and fundraising events where money raised goes towards research to find a cure for this debilitating disease,” said Gordon.

Gail Gustafson, Ethan’s mom, is 30 years old and was diagnosed at age 10 with psoriatic and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. She is also the adult honoree of the Jingle Bell Run. Gail expressed her appreciation for the support of the WFD and the Arthritis Foundation.

“Today was absolutely wonderful. His dream is to be a firefighter, and he’s very big on telling kids that have arthritis or other conditions that you have to believe in yourself and be strong,” said Gail. “And he certainly is; he plays hockey and he doesn’t let his arthritis stop him. His smile today says it all.”

This year’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis will be held Saturday, Dec. 6 at Narragansett Town Beach, 77 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. For more information or to register visit www.rhodeislandjbr.kintera.org. Questions may be directed to Melissa Behm at 739-3773/mbehm@arthritis.org.

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