On February 14, 2024, Bridget was diagnosed with RF+ Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. By September 2024, Bridget received an additional diagnosis of interstitial lung disease. Bridget received a stem cell transplant June 4, 2025 in hopes of putting her JIA in remission to protect her lungs.
Bridget's medical team have been completing a chimerism blood test monthly since her transplant. This test measures the ratio of donor blood cells to recipient blood cells. Bridget has developed a mixed chimerism with more of her blood cells slowly creeping into the mixture each month.
Bridget's JIA is still considered to be in full remission. However, it has been decided by her medical team that Bridget needs a second stem, cell transplant from the same donor. Kind of like just topping off the tank to make sure she doesn't go into graft failure.
