Stories
Every young person’s journey with rheumatic disease is different. These stories share the lived experiences of youth who are navigating challenges, building confidence, and finding their voice.
Through connection, support, and community, these young people are showing what’s possible — and helping others feel less alone along the way.
Morgan’s Guide to Travelling, Adventure & JIA
Last summer, I was ready for an adventure. I wanted to trudge into unknown territory and immerse myself somewhere outside of my university town. Here’s what I did to keep my arthritis in check, before, during and after my 18-day trip exploring France and Portugal with friends. Traveling with friends as…
Shedding Light On Lupus: Naina & Ambika
“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…
Growing Up and Out Of Pediatric Care: Trish’s Journey
“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…
Honor Student. Elite Athlete. JIA Warrior.
“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…
Desperate for a Diagnosis: Sophie’s Story
Sophie Finn is a student, a C+F Youth Ambassador, a soccer coach, and a JDM warrior. This is her story. My story began in Grade 7, when I started to experience unexplained pain in my lower back. At the time, I was playing soccer and my goal was to make…
From Diagnosis to Day-to-Day: The Last Twelve Months with JIA
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…
Comfort for a Cause: Jason’s Pajama Day School Fundraiser
One of our favourite things at Cassie + Friends is when kids step up and take action towards spreading awareness and fundraising for JIA and other rheumatic diseases. Our Calgary JIA warrior, Jason, is hosting the first kids fundraiser of the year- a pajama day at his school! Tickets will…
JIA, Turner Syndrome, Medication and Being a Teen: Alyssa’s Story
To recognize Juvenile Arthritis Awareness month, we’re highlighting stories from the youth in our community: their diagnosis, their journeys, what they’ve learned, and most importantly, their advice. At Cassie + Friends, we believe that all kids deserve to live pain-free. In Canada, 24,000 children, teens and their families will be…
Protected: How Trillium Projects is helping to CRUSH JA
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
My disease is so rare I don’t yet have a diagnosis.
To recognize rare disease day, we want to shine a light on all rare diseases, including the story of Zahra, whose rare autoinflammatory disease is still unknown, despite extensive genetic testing. Rare diseases affect 300 million people worldwide, and many of the 24,000 children in Canada in the pediatric rheumatic…
A Mothers Thank You
We would like to share a message from one of our Cassie + Friends families whose journey with Juvenile Arthritis has been made just a little bit easier, thanks to donors and friends like you. My 5 year old daughter, Eve and I are thankful for your constant support. Eve…
It’s Not Easy Being Rare: Working Together to Navigate the Challenges of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases
It is not easy being rare. Being rare means that there is not a lot of knowledge, research, and treatment options available for youth and families affected by systemic autoinflammatory diseases (SAIDs). And that is exactly what the recently formed Can-SAID advisory group, a branch of Cassie + Friends (C+F), wants to…