Purple Is More Than Just a Color for a Tewksbury Family

TEWKSBURY, MA -- From the moment 18-year-old Kiley Reitano of Tewksbury, opens her eyes in the morning there is pain.

Kiley suffers from several chronic diseases, Hashimotos Disease to Endometriosis, but the most "debilitating and life-altering disease,'' is Fibromyalgia, a diagnosis Kiley received three years ago, according to her mother, Mary Reitano.

Fibromyalgia, which affects more than 12 million Americans, is a musculoskeletal syndrome that may cause some or all of the following: widespread pain, tender points, incapacitating fatigue, anxiety, depression, migraines or chronic headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder, insomnia, hypersensitivity to cold or hot, swelling, fibro fog (inability to concentrate/focus), difficulty remembering, numbness, stiffness, decreased energy, noise, light and odor sensitivity and skin sensitivity.

"This turned her world upside down as it did ours. Many late night ER visits to Boston Children's Hospital and many years of specialists to figure this all out,'' Mary Reitano said. By Kiley's side every step of the way has been her mother, her father, Mike, and 13-year-old sister Mackenzie.

This is not like "acute" pain that you can pop a pill or use a cream to magically feel better, her mother said. "Kiley suffers from wide spread chronic pain all over her body 24/7, 365 days of the year,'' she said. Kiley uses acupuncture to help for short term relief, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Kiley, now a senior at Tewksbury Memorial High School, has missed school, but worked to make it up and maintained A's and B's, her mother said.

Some days are worse then others but everyday she tries her best, her mother said. She goes to school, works part time, goes to the gym and still smiles, her mother said.

To raise awareness of this disease, the Reitano family in 2016 worked with the National Fibromyalgia Association and Gov. Charlie Baker to have Baker proclaim May 12 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in Massachusetts.

With May 12 just days away, Mary Reitano said, "We are encouraging people to wear the color purple on this day to show their support for our daughter and the countless others suffering from this invisible disease.'

" So I ask that you wear purple of some sort, shirts, socks, tie, earrings, headband -- anything -- and then take a picture and send it to me or tag me,'' she said.

It was " humbling" last year how people came together for this event, the mother said. " I want this year to be even more. I know we are a strong knit community and can do this. Thank you from our family and all suffers for your help,'' she said.

People who want to participate can Tweet photos of themselves wearing purple with the hashtags #fibrostrong #kileystrong.

Courtesy photo of Kiley Reitano, of Tewksbury, holding a proclamation signed by Gov. Charlie Baker proclaiming May 12 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in Massachusetts.