Advice

Daniela is an 18-year-old youth living with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In this piece, she shares her journey to diagnosis, the realities of growing up with a chronic illness, and how her experiences have shaped her passion for advocacy and helping others navigating childhood-onset rheumatic disease.

Morphea, also known as localized Scleroderma, is an auto immune disease that causes hardened and darkened patches of skin on the face, hands, feet, or anywhere else on the body.

For those who are currently facing a new diagnosis, I encourage you to reach out and maximize your use of available resources

Living with JDM has made me obsessed with self-care and vigilant about what I put into my body. I’m passionate about maintaining an active lifestyle; I work out regularly, I am a figure skater and I stay engaged in activities that keep me fit.

Dr. Molly Dushnicky’s story sounds like a lot of her patients’: When she was just 18 months old, she stopped walking, her knees wouldn’t bend easily, and she wasn’t her usual happy self. That’s when she was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Now, Dr. Dushnicky is a Pediatric Rheumatologist…

We’re honoured to share this piece by Kayla Caddy, a young adult living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) who works as a job coach for people on the autism spectrum. Drawing on her lived experience and professional expertise, Kayla shares with us some tips for accepting and advocating for accommodations,…

The holiday season has always been one of my favourite times of the year—twinkling lights, family gatherings, and cozy nights by the fire. But since Charlie’s Juvenile Arthritis (JIA) diagnosis, we’ve learned that winter holidays come with their own set of challenges for our family. From chilly weather that can…

Our Youth Mentor, Alejandra, reflects on her experience in medical school and shares what it’s been like as she navigates her first year. Many youth with chronic illnesses, like JIA, often aspire to be doctors or other healthcare providers, as they are inspired by their own lived experiences to help others. Thinking…

Earlier this year, we heard from Alison, who shared her story about navigating the workplace with a rheumatic disease. Now in her new role, Alison shared an update with us about her journey, and how what she has been through over the last few months has shown her that she made…

One of the many impacts of COVID was a surge in homeschooling, not just during the pandemic but well after. This back-to-school season, we’re pleased to share some tips from JIA parent, Kathleen Bailey, who has homeschooled her children for many years and has a lot of great advice for…

For this edition of, “Where Are They Now?”, we caught up with Ravia Frison. You may remember Ravia from our What is JIA video, where she poignantly shares what it is like to live with an often invisible disease like JIA. We’re so honoured to share an update from Ravia, including some…

Earlier this year, we heard from Alison, who shared her story about navigating the workplace with a rheumatic disease. Now in her new role, Alison shared an update with us about her journey, and how what she has been through over the last few months has shown her that she made…