Tucker Beau was diagnosed with severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) at the age of two. His condition causes a myriad of autoimmune disorders including painful and swollen joints, rashes, night sweats, high fevers, digestive maladies, and hearing loss. He is now six years old and has been treated with the high risk disease modifying drugs normally reserved for adults with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis. There is no cure for arthritis and without a cure Tucker Beau will continue along that physically debilitating path of JIA.

As Tucker Beau overheard his parents and doctors discuss his prognosis; all he knew was something made him hurt and they must be saying “Monstritis” instead of arthritis. Tucker Beau decided that if he has Montritis attacking him then he needed to call in the help of a superhero. He chose Batman to help him when he hurts, and wears his Batman suit for infusions and hospital stays. He is always brave and promises not to cry as long as the nurses and doctors call him Batman.

Tucker Beau recently moved to Houston from Midland, Texas with his parents, Todd and Linsey Hyatt and siblings, Preston and Kade. Tucker Beau and the entire Hyatt family understand the need to find a cure and work tirelessly with the Arthritis Foundation to bring awareness to the work of the Foundation and raise funds to find a cure. Tucker Beau is outspoken about his disease and was recently featured on the Great Day Houston Morning Show with Earl Campbell. Tucker Beau is often quoted as saying "I'm a kid and kids need to play.”

The greater Houston area is home to 5,000 children and over one million adults suffering from the nation’s most debilitating disease called arthritis.

Note from Todd Hyatt
Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Our six year old little boy, Tucker Beau, was diagnosed with severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) at the age of two. His condition causes a myriad of autoimmune disorders including painful and swollen joints, rashes, night sweats, and high fevers. JIA affects the growth and development of joints and joint movement; functioning of internal organs, skin and eye; and causes premature death. Studies show that more children suffer from juvenile arthritis (JA) than cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy combined. Today, treatments include chemotherapy and other risky immune modifying drugs. There is no cure for arthritis.

As Tucker Beau overheard his doctors discuss his prognosis; all he knew was something made him hurt. In the mind of an innocent child, he thought they were diagnosing him with “Monstritis”, as monsters hurt people. Tucker Beau decided that Batman would help him fight Monstritis. Tucker Beau wears his Batman suit for infusions and hospital stays. He is always brave and promises not to cry as long as the nurses and doctors call him Batman.

In honor of our son’s courage, Arthritis Foundation’s signature gala, called the Houston Bone Bash is designed around Tucker Beau and his superhero. Just as the Bat-Signal was sent for Batman to be a hero, the 2014 Houston Bone Bash will honor Tucker Beau and send out a signal for heroes to donate in Tucker Beau’s honor.

Please be a hero for our son and donate to Arthritis Foundation’s Houston Bone Bash in his honor. Your donation will help fund research for better treatments and eventually a cure, for Tucker Beau and the 300,000+ American children living with this debilitating and deadly disease.