A Guide to Accommodations Acceptance, Peer Pressure, and Fear 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 [...]
Navigating Medical School: Alejandra's First Year 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 [...]
Meet Lily. One morning, at the young age of 2, our daughter Lily woke up limping and her left knee looked slightly swollen. She didn't seem to show that she was in pain, but was refraining from putting weight on her left leg. We had no idea what happened and didn't recall any [...]
"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 [...]
"Hi, my name is Naina and I am 9 years old. This summer I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Lupus. I hope to inspire kids like me to be brave and courageous. I want to spread the message that kids can get through anything with strength. Artwork has been a way for [...]
"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 [...]
Hello, My name is Emma Linsley, and I am from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. When I was 15 years old, I was diagnosed with JIA. Along with needing to learn to manage the physical ailments of the disease, this diagnosis brought with it a complex set of other challenges that my support network and I would [...]
Is your family beginning to think about the transition from pediatric to adult rheumatology care? We spoke to one teen who talks about her diagnosis with rheumatic disease at age 14, and how she's been taking control of her condition two years later. This is a powerful read that offers a few starting points [...]
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