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The heartwarming story of a little girl on a big mission to find a cure for arthritis.

'We want people to know that arthritis isn't just a disease for the elderly.'

Shalako Umbach was a proud papa to a happy and healthy baby girl named Maddie. But once she learned how to walk, everything started to change.

Maddie was a very happy and healthy baby. All photos provided by the Umbach family and used with permission.


Many parents love to document the joy of a child taking his or her first steps, but in doing so, Umbach, from Ontario, Canada, noticed that his daughter experienced some problems.

"I noticed that she started to crawl in an awkward manner by using her knuckles instead of the palms of her hands," Umbach told Upworthy. "Then we noticed that she felt pain when she sat down and stood up."

At that point, he knew there was a serious problem for his baby girl, and a rheumatologist confirmed it. After physical assessments and blood work, little Maddie was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis shortly after her first birthday.

The news left Umbach and his wife shocked and devastated for their baby girl.

"We had no idea that a baby could have arthritis," he said. "My wife and I felt confused and helpless."

But it's a very real problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 1 out of 250 children in America suffer from juvenile arthritis or another rheumatologic condition.

Maddie has lived with the disease for six out of the seven years of her life. It hasn't been easy for her.

Since Maddie was 14 months old, she has taken a variety of medications to help her manage the pain. The problem is that they come with a long list of side effects that would be hard for a grown-up to manage, let alone a child.

It's been a tough road for Maddie.

There have been severe stomach pains, blood infections, bouts with pneumonia, and permanent hair loss. On some days, she couldn't get out of bed without assistance.

"It's not uncommon for Maddie to go to the emergency room every few months," Umbach said. "It's been really tough on all of us."

But her ordeal didn't stop Maddie from turning a negative into a positive.

No matter what she's going through, Maddie flashes that million-dollar smile.

As a 7-year-old, Maddie has come to grips with her painful reality and demonstrates a toughness that is amazing to witness.

"Even on her worst day, Maddie would rather limp her way to school than stay in bed and wallow in her suffering," Umbach said. "I often say that she's my superhero because she refuses to let her arthritis dictate what she can and can't do."

That includes doing her part to ensure other children enjoy lives free from arthritis. With that goal in mind, Maddie raises money for the Arthritis Society of Canada's Walk to Fight Arthritis held every June in Kitchener, Ontario.

And the kid is pretty good at it.

She's the captain of a team called Maddie's Marchers that was the leading fundraising team in her region last year.

"Maddie takes her role as our leader very seriously," Umbach said. "She hosts lemonade stands, garage sales, bottle drives, and does whatever it takes to raise money for the team."

And she does it all with an infectiously positive attitude.

"Maddie is a very shy kid, but she steps out of her comfort zone to spread awareness to as many people as possible," Umbach said. "Last year she cut the ribbon to start the walk and was interviewed by our local news station. I am so incredibly proud of her."

Umbach (green shirt) looks on proudly as Maddie cuts the ribbon for the arthritis walk.

The message Maddie wants the world to know? Arthritis isn't just "a disease for old people."

Because arthritis is known to affect the elderly, many question if Maddie's pain is real — but Umbach knows the truth. His daughter is often sick, experiences incredible difficulty in completing everyday tasks like getting dressed, and at 7 years old, she's the same weight as her 2-year-old brother.

Umbach said he wishes more people knew about the disease; maybe then there'd be more people willing to contribute money to juvenile arthritis research to help find a cure.

"Having pain and stiffness all the time can make you want to give up, but she doesn't," Umbach said. "She wakes up and chooses to smile every single day. Smiling can be hard, too, but Maddie believes that if she can make herself do it, she can beat her pain that day. And if she can beat her pain one day at a time, she can beat her arthritis."

But that's only half of it. Maddie is dedicating her young life to ensuring other little boys and girls beat their arthritis, too.

And that is truly something to smile about.

You got this, Maddie.



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10 anti-holiday recipes that prove the season can be tasty and healthy

Balance out heavy holiday eating with some lighter—but still delicious—fare.

Albertson's

Lighten your calorie load with some delicious, nutritious food between big holiday meals.

True

The holiday season has arrived with its cozy vibe, joyous celebrations and inevitable indulgences. From Thanksgiving feasts to Christmas cookie exchanges to Aunt Eva’s irresistible jelly donuts—not to mention leftover Halloween candy still lingering—fall and winter can feel like a non-stop gorge fest.

Total resistance is fairly futile—let’s be real—so it’s helpful to arm yourself with ways to mitigate the effects of eating-all-the-things around the holidays. Serving smaller amounts of rich, celebratory foods and focusing on slowly savoring the taste is one way. Another is to counteract those holiday calorie-bomb meals with some lighter fare in between.

Contrary to popular belief, eating “light” doesn’t have to be tasteless, boring or unsatisfying. And contrary to common practice, meals don’t have to fill an entire plate—especially when we’re trying to balance out heavy holiday eating.

It is possible to enjoy the bounties of the season while maintaining a healthy balance. Whether you prefer to eat low-carb or plant-based or gluten-free or everything under the sun, we’ve got you covered with these 10 easy, low-calorie meals from across the dietary spectrum.

Each of these recipes has less than 600 calories (most a lot less) per serving and can be made in less than 30 minutes. And Albertsons has made it easy to find O Organics® ingredients you can put right in your shopping cart to make prepping these meals even simpler.

Enjoy!

eggs and green veggies in a skillet, plate of baconNot quite green eggs and ham, but closeAlbertsons

Breakfast Skillet of Greens, Eggs & Ham

273 calories | 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 (5 oz) pkg baby spinach

2 eggs

1 clove garlic

4 slices prosciutto

1/2 medium yellow onion

1 medium zucchini squash

1/8 cup butter, unsalted

1 pinch crushed red pepper

Find full instructions and shopping list here.

bow of cauliflower ham saladGet your cauliflower power on.Albertsons

Creamy Cauliflower Salad with Ham, Celery & Dill

345 calories | 20 minutes

1/2 medium head cauliflower

1 stick celery

1/4 small bunch fresh dill

8 oz. ham steak, boneless

1/2 shallot

1/4 tspblack pepper

1/4 tsp curry powder

2 tsp Dijon mustard

1/4 tsp garlic powder

3 Tbsp mayonnaise

1/8 tsp paprika

2 tsp red wine vinegar

1/2 tsp salt

Find full instructions and shopping list here.

tofu on skewers on a plate with coleslawPlant-based food fan? This combo looks yums. Albertsons

Grilled Chili Tofu Skewers with Ranch Cabbage, Apple & Cucumber Slaw

568 calories | 20 minutes

1 avocado

1/2 English cucumber

1 (12 oz.) package extra firm tofu

1 Granny Smith apple

3 Tbsp (45 ml) Ranch dressing

1/2 (14 oz bag) shredded cabbage (coleslaw mix)

2 tsp chili powder

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

Find full instructions and shopping list here.

frittata in a cast iron skilletSometimes you just gotta frittata.Albertsons

Bell Pepper, Olive & Sun-Dried Tomato Frittata with Parmesan

513 calories | 25 minutes

6 eggs

1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted

2 oz Parmesan cheese

1 red bell pepper

1/2 medium red onion

8 sundried tomatoes, oil-packed

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp salt

Find full instructions and shopping list here.

plate with slices of grilled chicken and a caprese saladCaprese, if you please.Albertsons

Balsamic Grilled Chicken with Classic Caprese Salad

509 calories | 25 minutes

3/4 lb chicken breasts, boneless skinless

1/2 small pkg fresh basil

1/2 (8 oz pkg) fresh mozzarella cheese

1 clove garlic

3 tomatoes

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

4 3/4 pinches black pepper

1 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

3/4 tsp salt

Find full instructions and shopping list here.

four stuffed mushrooms on a plateThese mushrooms look positively poppable.Albertsons

Warm Goat Cheese, Parmesan & Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Mushrooms

187 calories | 35 minutes

1/2 lb cremini mushrooms

1 clove garlic

1/2 (4 oz) log goat cheese

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

2 sundried tomatoes, oil-packed

1 1/4 pinches crushed red pepper

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1/4 tsp Italian seasoning

2 pinches salt

Find full instructions and shopping list here.

plate with open English muffin with goat cheese and sliced baby tomatoes on topMove over, avocado toast. English muffin pizzas have arrived.Albertsons

English Muffin Pizzas with Basil Pesto, Goat Cheese & Tomatoes

327 calories | 10 minutes

3 Tbsp (45 ml) basil pesto

2 English muffins

1/2 (4 oz) log goat cheese

1/2 pint grape tomatoes

3/4 pinch black pepper

2 pinches salt

Find full instructions and shopping list here.

pita pocket on a plate filled with veggies, meat and cheeseThis pita pocket packs a colorful punch.Albertsons

Warm Pita Pocket with Turkey, Cheddar, Roasted Red Peppers & Parsley

313 calories | 20 minutes

1/4 (8 oz) block cheddar cheese

1/2 bunch Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

4 oz oven roasted turkey breast, sliced

1/2 (12 oz) jar roasted red bell peppers

1 whole grain pita

3/4 pinch black pepper

1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tsp mayonnaise

Find full instructions and shopping list here.

plate with toast smeared with avocado and topped with prosciuttoDid we say, "Move over, avocado toast?" What we meant was "Throw some prosciutto on it!" Albertsons

Avocado Toast with Crispy Prosciutto

283 calories | 10 minutes

1 avocado

2 slices prosciutto

2 slices whole grain bread

1 5/8 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp onion powder

Find full instructions and shopping list here.

bowl of chili with cheese and green onions on topVegetarian chili with a fall twistAlbertsons

Black Bean & Pumpkin Chili with Cheddar

444 calories | 30 minutes

2 (15 oz can) black beans

1/2 (8 oz ) block cheddar cheese

2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes

2 cloves garlic

2 green bell peppers

1 small bunch green onions (scallions)

1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin purée

1 medium yellow onion

1/2 tsp black pepper

5 7/8 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp cumin, ground

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp virgin coconut oil

Find full instructions and shopping list here.

For more delicious and nutritious recipes, visit albertsons.com/recipes.

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