Teen Transitions

“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…

“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.” Who…

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…

“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…

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…

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…

Is your family prepared to make the move from Pediatric to adult rheumatology care? If you’re teen is graduating next year or in the near future, how can they go through the transition from pediatric to adult care as smoothly as possible? We connected with Morgan Harris who recently graduated…

Trish is an inspiring community leader and one who has already accomplished so much in her young life. Having completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, she is now pursuing a Master’s Degree in the Netherlands, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to her education and personal growth. Trish’s unique life experiences have…

The Virtual Youth Panel event is now available for viewing on Youtube and IGTV. You’ll find timestamps of the video on Youtube to direct you to the questions/answers you’ll want to hear the most. This is an excellent resource to share with relatives, friends, sports coaches and teachers to help them understand life…

Alison Legge is a member of the Cassie + Friends Youth Leader Committee. She spoke at Cassie + Friends Family Day 2016 as a youth champion, speaking about the impact chronic disease has had on her mental health. A lot has happened since then, and Alison has learned she is…