Michael-Logan Jordan doesn’t like to see others suffering. If he encounters a homeless person on the street, he’ll buy him or her lunch. When the 2011 tsunami hit Japan, the Kaneohe teen sent his own toys and clothing to survivors. And when he was a mere 6 years old, he began an annual tradition of giving away his birthday presents to the Toys for Tots drive.
So it’s no surprise that Jordan, now 14, was named one of the 10 national winners of the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. In a ceremony last month at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., he received $5,000, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for his school, Kailua Intermediate, and a $5,000 grant for a charity of his choice.
Suffering is something Jordan experiences on a regular basis: Not a day goes by that he doesn’t endure pain. He was diagnosed witha serious form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age 3 and also suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective-tissue disorder that causes his shoulders and hips to dislocate.
He regularly wears special braces on his wrists, elbows and knees to deal with pain and ACE bandages on his limbs to help manage swelling.
On days when the pain is bad, Jordan uses a cane, which can be a bit awkward. "Sometimes I don’t want to get out of bed. I have good and bad days. Pain just comes out of the blue," he said.
His ailments have resulted in high fevers and seizures, heart inflammation, stomach ulcers and kidney stones. During his trip to receive his volunteerism award, he collapsed because of fluid buildup around his heart, landing him at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
His treatments range from medications and injections to aquatherapy, acupuncture and physical therapy. The teen said he finds his everyday acts of kindness a form of therapy as well.
"My mood affects my arthritis a lot. It can get really bad," he said. "Giving back makes me feel better, knowing that I made a difference. It lifts my spirits and makes me happy."
The list of Jordan’s good deeds is long. He’s collected clothing and other items for wounded soldiers and raised more than $10,000 for the National Arthritis Foundation. When his father, Marine Master Sgt. Christopher Jordan, was deployed to Iraq, Jordan got his classmates to prepare more than 400 Christmas stockings for the troops. He also volunteers at the veterans homeless shelter in Kalaeloa.
"Some kids excel in baseball or other sports," said his mother, ReBecca Jordan. "He excels in giving back. It’s his passion."
Jordan, who will be a freshman at Kalaheo High School, considers himself a typical teen who enjoys video games, skateboarding and hanging out with friends.
He said he lives by two mottos: "I can let my disease control me or I can control the disease," and "Pain is just weakness leaving the body."
He also is motivated by his mom, who has arthritis. "If she can get through the day, so can I," he said.
The teen in turn serves as a role model for his younger brother, Jaxson, 7, who was diagnosed with the same type of juvenile arthritis that afflicts Jordan, and his 4-year-old sister, Sophia.
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“Be Well” features inspiring stories of people dealing with health challenges. Reach Nancy Arcayna at narcayna@staradvertiser.com or call 529-4808.
