"Working out and going to the gym helped me regain my physical ability but also my confidence, energy and overall mental wellbeing." - Ryan Dekker, Young Adult Living with JA As someone who grew up with an active lifestyle (and plenty of energy), finding a way to stay active [...]
“As a young adult with JIA I have experienced firsthand just how much goes on at this age. School, work, relationships, newfound independence, transition… I wanted to create resources with short pieces of patient-driven advice to help others like me navigate the constant changes of life with rheumatic disease.” [...]
"We're very proud of our girls for showing the fortitude needed to not let these diseases define them." Hello families! My name is Mike Wiens, husband to Jesica and father to two girls, Vanessa 24 yrs old, and Sarah 23 yrs old. We're happy to call Port Moody, BC our home since relocating here [...]
"Feelings and emotions are real, and should be felt and openly discussed." Meet Kaese and his mom, Jennifer. Together, they have chosen to share their story of being diagnosed with JIA and the many impacts that can have on a child and family's mental health. To read more Cassie + Friends' Youth Mental [...]
Cassie + Friends is leading the formation of a new workgroup on Pediatric Rheumatology Mental Health to improve mental health care and outcomes for children with rheumatologic diseases. The workgroup will be led by: Dr. Andrea Knight, Pediatric Rheumatologist, The Hospital for Sick Children + Canada Research Chair in Mental Health and Chronic Disease [...]
"If you told me a few years ago that I would be pursuing my dream of playing post-secondary volleyball at Dalhousie University, I would have laughed out loud because at the time it seemed near to impossible." Meet Ella. In April of 2020, I was diagnosed with a rheumatic condition you are probably [...]
RareTalks: Genetics and Childhood Rheumatic Disease There are many rare rheumatic diseases that can affect children, and these conditions can be challenging to diagnose and treat. Some examples of these diseases include JIA, Lupus, JDM, Vasculitis, Behcet's Disease, Dada2, Periodic Fever Syndrome, and many more. Genetics can play a significant [...]
"I was known as the 'girl who gets sick easily' within my family. This really impacted my mental health and acceptance for JIA for years." Did you know? Living with Juvenile Arthritis (JA)and other childhood rheumatic diseases like Lupus and JDM can increase your child's risk of depression [...]
Hi! My name is Cassie! That name might sound familiar because my parents started Cassie + Friends after I was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at 20 months. I am now 17 years old, in grade 12, and taking a break from filling out university applications as I write this. Time sure flies. But [...]
Fun fact: Did you know that the microbiome plays a key role in how our immune system functions and in our overall health? In fact, around 70% of our body's immune cells are located in the gut! To shed some light on what that could mean in the context of JIA, we are excited [...]
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