Despite his arthritis

Eleven-year-old Agassi Swisher has arthritis. But, he also takes part in dancing competitions. And, he plays basketball and football.

The sixth-grader at Carr Lane Visual and Performing Arts School is determined to lead a full life despite his illness. 

But, he admits, “Sometimes I can’t keep up because my knees start to hurt.” 

But, concerning the dancing, he said, “I do all the different types of dancing.” That includes tap, ballet and even hip hop. 

About football, he said, “I do that in the summer. My knees don’t hurt in the summer.” 

Swisher’s mother is Dina Howard. She said her boy’s arthritis pain comes and goes. The outbreaks don’t seem to be connected to weather, she said. 

December was one of the coldest on record in St. Louis. But, she said, “He was real active in December.” 

He takes three different types of medicine for his arthritis, two during the day and one at night. They are designed to reduce inflammation in his joints. 

Most pain is in his joints. But, the arthritis also makes his arms and legs feel weak at times. 

He started at the Carr Lane school this fall so he could pursue an entertainment career. In addition to regular academic classes, Carr Lane specialize in performing arts.

Swisher is taking both dancing and drama. The school also has many music classes, including classical. 

(Last fall, Young Saint Louis.com featured students from Carr Lane in a story about their opera, “Sukey and the Mermaid.” Opera Theatre of St. Louis arranged for a premiere performance of the student-written, acted and produced opera. To read that story, go back to the home page and click on archives. Then, call up the August, 2000, edition.)

In addition to dancing classes, Swisher participates in dancing competitions. Sometimes he dances solo and other times as a member of a group.

Concerning sports, he plays basketball at school and baseball in the neighborhood. The football competition comes during summer vacation. 

He and his family also are active in their church, Believers Temple Word Fellowship in Florissant. 

Swisher credits his prayers and reading of the Bible with helping him live with his arthritis. “The praying helps a lot,” he said.

Concerning the future, Swisher said he expects to go to Cardinal Ritter High School. Then, he’d like to go to college at UCLA in California. He likes that school because of the emphasis on entertainment careers. 

“I might like to be a singer,” he said. 

His mother said, “The doctors say he will be dealing with his arthritis all his life. But, they say it shouldn’t keep him from having a productive life.” 

For him, there’s nothing like a little hip-hop dancing to keep him physically active now.
 
 

Foundation offers more information about arthritis If you want to know more about kids’ arthritis, the Eastern Missouri Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation can help.  The office is located at 8390 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63124. The phone number is (314) 991-9333.  The local office also has a website at www.easternmissouriarthritis.org. A national website is at www.arthritis.org.  The local office has a variety of videos and books. Also, there is information about grant programs to cover costs of medicines and equipment. The local office also provides special activities for kids with arthritis. One event this month is Cabin Fever Weekend.