On September 27th, 2020 we launched our Virtual Education Series! Our first session – JIA 101 – led by guest speakers Dr. Roberta Berard, Chief of Paediatric Rheumatology, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre and parent Jennifer O’Shea, London, Ontario answered pressing audience questions regarding juvenile arthritis as they shared their expertise and experiences of this condition.

Did you miss out on JIA 101, looking for a refresher, or a newly diagnosed family looking for more information on JIA? Watch the live recording below. What can you expect from JIA 101?

Name: Virtual Education: JIA 101
Start: 2020-09-27T16:30:00-07:00
End: 2020-09-27T18:30:00-07:00
Location: Zoom

- - - - Hear from parent speaker, Jennifer O’Shea about her family’s journey with JIA, from being
        diagnosed to pain management and treatments.
      - Dr. Berard shares information on the different subtypes of JIA, the difference between pain
        and a flare, and emerging research insights
      - Answers to your questions regarding medications, treatment paths, remission, and more!

Panel Questions

Don’t have time to watch the full video? No problem! Below you will find all the questions our panelists were asked with the appropriate time stamp.

• (Lily’s Journey) Q 4:00- How did we know she had arthritis, what were the signs?

• (DR.Bobbi Berard) 14:50-15:25 Q What is Arthritis?

• Q 16:18- What is JIA?

• Q 17:50-Subtypes of JIA.

• 24:21-Kids don’t switch between categories

• 31:41- Treatment

• 34:50- Treatment basses on how many joints and other features.

• 39:40-Individualized medicine in JIA.

• 42:56-Up coming and ongoing studies in Canada.

• 46:00 Q/A

• Q 47:00-What does Lily understand about her condition now and how does she deal?

• Q 48:00- Does she share with her teacher and classmates at school?

• Q 48:55- Difference between pain and flair?

• Q 53:07- Is there a reason why diagnoses are delayed?

• Q 55:36- What doe Biologic mean?

• Q 57:32- Undifferentiated subtype and how it is treated?

• Q 59:00- Can someone have JIA and psoriatic arthritis: can you have two types at once?

• Q 1:01:41- Is there a History of arthritis in family- is there any evidence that it can be passed on?

• Q 1:04:34- Nutrition is there any food categories that increase inflammation?

• Q 1:11:11- What treatments that lily had to overcome?

• Q 1:14:55- Will kids ever grow out of arthritis?

• Q 1:20:28- Any gifts from the journey of arthritis?

Session speakers:

Dr. Roberta Berard, Chief of Paediatric Rheumatology, Children’s Hospital

London Health Sciences Centre, Ontario

Dr. Roberta Berard is an associate professor of Paediatrics at the University of Western Ontario and the chief of Paediatric Rheumatology at the Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre in London, Ontario, Canada. She is also a valued member of the Cassie + Friends Medical Advisory Committee where she helps to provide the most current and evidence-based information to youth and families. To her patients, Dr. Berard is known for her warmth and passion in providing kids and families affected by juvenile idiopathic arthritis, uveitis, and other rheumatic diseases with the best clinical care and treatment options possible.

Jennifer O’Shea, Parent of a JIA patient: Lily
Lily was diagnosed with JIA in February of 2016. She was just 26 months old. Her Mom, Jennifer, remembers the day they noticed her “pain” like it was yesterday: It was Christmas morning in 2015. Jennifer had taken her out of her crib to go downstairs to see what Santa had left. But instead of opening presents, Lily just stood there and cried. She couldn’t and wouldn’t move.

Over the next 2 months, they made trips to their GP, ER, pediatric ortho, and got x-rays, chiro, massage therapy and more. Finally, they were seen in pediatric rheumatology (where they met the one and only Dr. Berard) and were given an answer to what was causing Lily’s debilitating pain – JIA subtype Polyarticular. She had more than 5 joints affected when diagnosed.

Throughout the last four years, they have made many trips to LHSC to see Dr. Berard for blood work, x-rays, MRIs, and numerous cortisone injections. They consistently feel like Lily is getting the best care in the world and that someday soon she will be able to be in complete remission, meaning being pain-free with no medication. Regardless of her appointment, Lily always goes in with a positive attitude and makes her nurses and Dr. Berard smile upon every visit. According to Jennifer, Lily is “a serious little warrior” who they are “so very proud of”.

Looking to learn more about JIA? Check out our “About JIA” page for additional information.