WATERLOO - Try telling Ellie Neuendorf that arthritis is an old people's disease.

The aches and pains in the toddler's joints would beg to differ. And the 3-year-old can pronounce "rheumatologist" as well as any adult.

Ellie was diagnosed with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis before she was 2.

"There is a misconception that this is an old person's disease," said Melissa Marchant of the Iowa Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. "There are 300,000 children across the U.S. diagnosed with arthritis."

Ellie's diagnosis didn't come easy. At 18 months old, her grandmother noticed she was limping. Ellie's parents, Chris and Tracey Neuendorf, of Waverly, took her to the doctor, who said Ellie had suffered a sprain.

Time progressed, and Ellie didn't improve. In fact, she could barely walk. She was then diagnosed has having a cracked fibula. But when the pain moved to Ellie's elbow, her parents knew something else was wrong.

"She would just cry with pain," said Tracey. "After two months, we requested we be sent to Mayo Clinic." At the Rochester, Minn. hospital, Ellie saw a pediatric rheumatologist.

There is only one full-time pediatric rheumatologist in the state of Iowa, Marchant said. That doctor practices at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Another sees patients only part time.

"We are lucky," said Marchant. "Some states have none. What's hard is when these children have to travel three-plus hours to doctor."

For Ellie, the specialist at Mayo proved to be a godsend.

"She was diagnosed with five minutes of the doctor looking at her," Tracey said, noting the disease affects five of Ellie's joints - her left elbow, both knees and both ankles.

Some 66 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis, according to the National Arthritis Foundation. In Iowa, 793,000 people live with arthritis.

The Arthritis Foundation is calling for Cedar Valley residents to take action in the fight against the often-debilitating disease by participating in the 2006 Waterloo Arthritis Walk. The event will raise money for arthritis awareness and research.

The Waterloo walk is one of 400 such events across the country. The walk features a 3-mile course as well as a 1-mile course. Because canines get arthritis too, walkers are encouraged to bring their dogs along. Dogs must be on a leash.

In 2005, more than 75,000 walkers across the nation joined the cause. Locally, all money raised will help to increase programs and services for arthritis sufferers throughout Iowa.

Ellie and her family will be at the walk with a team of 25-30 family members and friends. Ellie will not only support the cause, but celebrate her own recovery. For Ellie, months of visits to Mayo Clinic, prescription medication, physical therapy and joint splints have been successful.

"She has been in remission for two months," said Tracey. … "We are just so thrilled that 16 months after her initial symptoms, Ellie is living pain-free and looks just like any energetic toddler."

Contact Meta Hemenway-Forbes at (319) 291-1493 or meta.hemenway-forbes@wcfcourier.com.

Go and do

What: Arthritis Foundation Iowa Chapter 2006 Waterloo Arthritis Walk.

When: 8 a.m. Oct. 21

Where: George Wyth State Park, Higgins Shelter

More info: To form a walk team or to pre-register, call (866) 378-0636 or visit www.arthritis.org, keyword "Iowa."

Local sponsors: KWWL-TV, Mix 96.1 FM