JIA

nternational Youth Day Edition: Tyler Mah + Gauri Raj For International Youth Day 2024, we’re delighted to announce a new series called “Where Are They Now?” At Cassie + Friends, youth are at the heart of everything we do, and we love being able to support them as they continue…

Alana Hurov’s daughter, Katherine, was diagnosed with Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) at just two years old. Katherine’s journey, like that of many children battling rheumatic diseases, has been challenging yet marked by her remarkable resilience at such a young age. “My daughter’s journey with JIA has not been easy,”…

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…

“Throughout all of these experiences that I have had with Cassie + Friends, there is one throughline: Understanding. Understanding is a concept not to be underestimated.” Meet Ciara. It was after after my body couldn’t row anymore, my hands couldn’t hold the pencil, my joints ached in pain, and after…

“Explaining this to fellow highschoolers was difficult, often times just resulting in being the butt of the joke. It was hard finding someone who understood and could relate.” Meet Ryan. I first started noticing symptoms as early as age 12. At that time, many just advised me that I was…

“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…

“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’…

“Life changes at a fast pace in your early 20s.” Meet Trish. Life after pediatric care is a journey. I would describe it as a relationship with its ups and downs. High highs when you feel amazing and low lows when finding access to a doctor is tough. I came out of…

“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…

As a parent/caregiver, you envision your children growing up happy and healthy, enjoying life to the fullest. However, life tends to chuckle at our best laid plans, and that was the case with our middle daughter, Rosalie, who was diagnosed with Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis at the age of 6…

Thank you to everyone who helped make Giving Tuesday a huge success for children and families affected by Juvenile Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases – including one very special gift we wanted to share with you from eight-year old Iyla. Iyla, from Meaford, Ontario, has been diligently raising money for…

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.…