WESTFIELD-Abigail Vassallo, at 4, is a “fighter” who doesn’t let a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis stop her from playing with her friends or practicing the piano with her mother Alexandria Vassallo.
Abigail Vassallo, seen with her mother, Alexandria Vassallo, rehearses a song on their Baldwin piano. Vassallo is coordinating the first Western Mass. Jingle Bell Run for the Arthritis Foundation to draw attention to children with arthritis.
“From the time she was born, she was a fighter,” said Alexandria Vassallo, who along with her husband James, encourages area residents to participate in the Nov. 12 Jingle Bell Run at Westfield High School. The 5K run or walk, the first Jingle Bell Run in Western Massachusetts, will showcase the Arthritis Foundation’s Champion of Yes campaign. The campaign brings people from all walks of life to shout, “Yes, we will live life to its fullest while searching for a cure.”
Abigail Vassallo is the 2016 Western Massachusetts Jingle Bell Run youth honoree.
Taking place in more than 100 cities nationwide, participants are encouraged to don a favorite holiday themed costume, add jingle bells to their shoelaces, or parade their ugly Christmas sweater in a fun event that raises funds for research for the 50 million Americans living with arthritis. Vassallo is so passionate about the cause that she is coordinating the first Western Mass. Jingle Bell Run.
“Abigail was born three weeks early and sustained a pneumothorax and needed a chest tube,” said Alexandria Vassallo. “When she came home she needed oxygen and a pulse ox machine 24 hours a day for the first four months of her life. She wasn’t able to meet her milestones like average children, and could not walk until she was 15 months old.”
The couple noted that when Abigail was 22 months old, she was grabbing onto railings and edges of the couch to walk, and regressed back to crawling.
“We took her to Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield and received the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis,” said Alexandria Vassallo. “Shortly after her second birthday, she had her first joint fluid extraction and joint injection in her knee. She’s been on a variety of medicine to help slow the pain and the progression of the disease.”
“I was naïve and had no idea children could have arthritis,” said James Vassallo, who has served for more than 17 years in the National Guard of the United States. “I love the Jingle Bell Run because it brings awareness to the community.”
Alexandria Vassallo, a mathematics teacher at Saint Mary High School on Bartlett Street, said her passion for this event is also to spread the word about others coping with arthritis.
Abigail Vassallo enjoys her time at the Baldwin piano with her mother, Alexandria Vassallo.
“I’m not the only mom going through this,” she said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Abigail was eager to showcase her skills at the Baldwin piano as her mom looked on. Alexandria Vassallo is also a piano teacher.
“For anyone who knows Abigail, she is continually smiling,” said Alexandria Vassallo. “She truly is the life of the party amongst our family and friends. She never stops singing or wanting to learn.”
James Vassallo echoed those sentiments.
“When we did our first Jingle Bell Run in the eastern part of the state, our kids were so into it with our team,” he said, noting Abigail’s siblings Isabella, Matthew and Brianna were right by her side. “Abigail will push herself and no matter how much pain she’s in she never complains.”
Alexandria Vassallo said her clue to Abigail’s pain level is when she asks, “Mommy, can I have my medicine?”
The family’s team name – Abigail’s Run – is listed on the Arthritis Foundation’s Western Massachusetts link – www.jbr.org/westernma. At press time, more than $5,000 has been pledged for the event. The goal for the first area Jingle Bell Run is $45,000.
“We also want to thank the teachers at St. Mary’s Parish School who donated $5 for each student who wore blue on Sept. 28, National Psoriatic Arthritis Day, which will be added to our goal,” said Alexandria Vassallo.
The cost is $35 for an adult to participate in either the 5K run or walk that starts at 10 a.m. Adults registered by Nov. 1 at www.jbr.org/westernma will receive a T-shirt and timing chip. Timing chips and T-shirts will not be available on the morning of Nov. 12 for adults registering at that time. A special $5 Kids Run at 9 a.m. is also planned and each child will receive a medal for completing the event. Water will be available for participants but will not be for sale.
Also, volunteers are needed in a variety of roles from working the registration table to cheering on runners and walkers.
For more information about the Jingle Bell Run or to volunteer, contact Alexandria Vassallo at (413) 579-7552, via email to [email protected], or visit Abigail’s 5K Run on Facebook.
“Some have questioned her diagnosis, asking why a child as young as Abby would have this disease,” said Alexandria Vassallo. “Unfortunately, her diagnosis is real. Kids get arthritis. It is important for me that further research is made to help kids like Abigail too.”
James Vassallo concurred.
“Abigail truly appreciates the value of life,” he said, adding, “she makes a connection with everyone she meets. We hope people will join our family and friends and dress up in the spirit of the holiday season.”
