NEWS

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) two months ago. While navigating this…

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 some tips for accepting and advocating for accommodations,…

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…

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 lived experiences to help others. Thinking…

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 last few months has shown her that she made…

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 Bobby-Jo as a new parent ambassador! Bobby-Jo truly inspires all of us at…

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 panic disorders. However, a strong support system and connection with others…

In this #WhyIRun, we hear from the Rose family, who share their daughter Audrey’s journey with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Audrey and her family will be participating in our upcoming run/walk at Hamilton’s Road2Hope marathon on November 2, 2024, where they are not only the top fundraiser for Cassie +…

At Cassie + Friends, we believe that every child and family should have access to timely and optimal rheumatic disease care. That’s why we launched the C+F Northern BC Project, to better understand the barriers to diagnosis, care, and patient support for families living in remote/rural communities and explore how we…

In this edition of “Where Are They Now”, we caught up with Jake Shiell and his mom Krista. You may remember Jake from his popular lemonade stand fundraiser and as the winner of our 2022 Youth Leader Award for the under-12 group. Jake was diagnosed with Systemic Idiopathic Juvenile Arthritis (sJIA) on his 8th birthday in…

In my 7 years of living with Ankylosing Spondylitis since the age of 21, I’ve had to teach a lot of people quite a few things about my illness. It’s a relatively unheard-of form of arthritis in day-to-day life. Most people have heard of Rheumatoid Arthritis, but not usually Ankylosing…

Emily, diagnosed at age 3. Never complained. Emily was a happy-go-lucky kid and could always be found smiling and laughing. We felt lucky that she was so young when COVID came because we were able to spend time at home together, and because of her age, she didn’t know what…