August 2023

C+F Inventing Room: Reinventing the Injection Experience for Kids and Families Affected by JA and other childhood rheumatic diseases in Canada

By |August 31st, 2023|Advice, Advocacy, Blog, Injection, Medication|

Inspired by the Roald Dahl Charity’s Marvellous Nurse Inventing Rooms, on August 23rd, we hosted our very own C+F Inventing Room to ask the community and together envision what our C+F Injection Coping Kits should include. With the help of medical experts, parents and youth, we dove in and got to work! We started [...]

June 2023

Youth Story: My experience with JIA and finding Cassie + Friends

By |June 28th, 2023|B.C., Blog, Fundraising, JIA, Movement, Physical Activity, Stories, Vancouver|

"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 my diagnosis of [...]

Highschool, Football, & Back Pain: Ryan’s Story

By |June 23rd, 2023|B.C., JIA, Newly Diagnosed, Stories, Teen Transitions, Vancouver|

"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 going through some growing [...]

Get to know our Youth Ambassador of of the Year, Alejandra Van Dusen

By |June 8th, 2023|Advocacy, Mental Health (For Youth), Post- Secondary, Stories, Teen Transitions|

“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.” [...]

Tough as Nails: A Father Reflects on his Two Daughters and Childhood Rheumatic Disease

By |June 5th, 2023|Advocacy, High School, JIA, Post- Secondary, Rare Disease, Stories, TMJ|

"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 [...]

May 2023

Mental Health Matters: Kaese’s Journey With JA

By |May 5th, 2023|Advocacy, JIA, Mental Health, Mental Health (For Youth), Stories|

"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 [...]

April 2023

March 2023

Honor Student. Elite Athlete. JIA Warrior.

By |March 22nd, 2023|High School, Injection, JIA, Medication, Movement, Pain Tips, Physical Activity, Post- Secondary, Stories, Teen Transitions|

"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 [...]

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