Cassie + Friends is proud to introduce our first-ever practicum student, Jillian Wickert. Welcome, Jillian! Jillian is a student at the University of Alberta (U of A) doing a Master’s Degree in Community Engagement within the School of Public Health. Jillian not only has an interest in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and chronic illness, [...]
Hey! My name is Josie Fratarcangeli, and I am from Woodstock, Ontario. I was diagnosed with Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis when I was 4 years old. I am currently 17 years old – and have just “graduated” from London Health Science’s Pediatric Medical Day Unit (PMDU) where I got my monthly infusions of Remicade [...]
Make lemonade! At least that’s what Jacob Shiell did when he was diagnosed with Systemic Idiopathic Juvenile Arthritis (SJIA) on his eighth birthday in October 2021. Jacob’s journey began with unexplained foot pain and swelling. Over the next few weeks, the pain and swelling worsened and spread to his right knee, elbow and wrist. [...]
Hello there! My name is Emily Bessey. I am 19 years old and live in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. My journey with JIA and TMJ started way back in 2009 when I was just 6 years old. I would go to school limping, hardly able to walk, but return home at the end of [...]
Canadian Pediatric Rheumatology Families in the Spotlight! We want to thank every parent and youth who participated in our survey to find out more about Canadian families' preferences and experiences with Telemedicine practices during COVID-19. Your results have been published as a scientific research paper - here's our summary below and a link to [...]
Over the last six years, the Prime Family Bottle Drive has raised an astounding $80,000+ in support of Cassie + Friends research and support programs. Now they are ready to pass the bottle one last time through a legacy partnership with BC Return It and Regional Recycling Depots across the province! If you live in [...]
July 2022 Update: Medication Alert Dear Community, Please find below an important message from our Medical Advisory Committee on behalf of Canadian Pediatric Rheumatologists. ***MEDICAL ADVISORY UPDATE*** July 2022 Re: Actemra (tocilizumab) Shortage There is a shortage of the subcutaneous form of Actemra (tocilizumab) in Canada. This is likely to last several weeks at [...]
Hi Everyone! My name is Ciara, and I am working as an Administrative Assistant at Cassie + Friends this summer I am 19 years old and have just finished my first year at the University of Toronto studying English Literature. One of my favourite forms of Literature is Epic poetry (ex: The Odyssey). I am [...]
***MEDICAL ADVISORY UPDATE: COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE + SAFETY DATA*** It has been a while since we have provided a COVID update, and we know a lot has been happening for children and youth with arthritis and rheumatic diseases, and their families. It has been a challenging time for so many, and difficult to keep up [...]
New hope for kids living with arthritis in BC Interior thanks to replacement specialist clearing red tape and a special live-from-Nashville concert event benefiting Canadian Children’s Charities Penticton, British Columbia, May 18, 2021 – 97 South Song Sessions, the group behind Penticton’s summer songwriters festival of the same name (97SouthSongSessions.com), will produce and donate [...]
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