Attacking Barriers: Fencing with JIA For a lot of kids, being diagnosed with a rheumatic disease, like Juvenile Arthritis (JIA), means adapting to a whole new way of life. Today, we’re honoured to share the story of Paula and her son Simon, who was diagnosed with Enthesitis-Related Arthritis (ERA) [...]
A Guide to Accommodations Acceptance, Peer Pressure, and Fear We’re honoured to share this piece by Kayla Caddy, a young adult living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) who works as a job coach for people on the autism spectrum. Drawing on her lived experience and professional expertise, Kayla shares with us [...]
The holiday season has always been one of my favourite times of the year—twinkling lights, family gatherings, and cozy nights by the fire. But since Charlie’s Juvenile Arthritis (JIA) diagnosis, we’ve learned that winter holidays come with their own set of challenges for our family. From chilly weather that can worsen joint pain [...]
This Giving Tuesday, Gifts of All Sizes Can Help Kids Be Pain-Free! Every day, thousands of children, teens, and young adults across Canada live with Juvenile Arthritis (JA) and rheumatic diseases. From painful infusions and weekly injections to the emotional toll of living with a chronic illness, these kids are forced to endure more [...]
Navigating Medical School: Alejandra's First Year Our Youth Mentor, Alejandra, reflects on her experience in medical school and shares what it’s been like as she navigates her first year. Many youth with chronic illnesses, like JIA, often aspire to be doctors or other healthcare providers, as they are inspired by their own [...]
Alison Legge: Navigating the workplace with a rheumatic disease, Part 2 Earlier this year, we heard from Alison, who shared her story about navigating the workplace with a rheumatic disease. Now in her new role, Alison shared an update with us about her journey, and how what she has been through over the [...]
Be a Champion this Giving Tuesday Giving Tuesday is a day when people around the world come together to make a positive impact. This year, we need your help to bring awareness to a drastically under-represented and under-funded cause: Juvenile Arthritis (JA) and childhood rheumatic diseases. The truth is, most Canadians don’t [...]
Hope for Harley, Hope for All How one parent turned despair into action Meet one of our new parent ambassadors, Bobby-Jo! Last year, Bobby-Jo shared with us her daughter Harley’s journey with JIA, and why she was running for Team Cassie + Friends Toronto. Today, we are so happy to announce [...]
We are so excited to introduce you to our newest parent ambassadors, Tamara and Bobby-Jo, from our McMaster and SickKids centres! Our parent ambassadors are often the first point of contact for newly diagnosed families and are there for anyone who might be struggling or need a hand finding resources. They [...]
Building Community and Mental Health Support for Students with Rheumatic Diseases: Ciara’s Story Living with a chronic condition like a rheumatic disease can be especially challenging for young people, not only physically but also mentally. It's no surprise that 40% of youth diagnosed with a rheumatic disease experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, or [...]
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