NEWS

Harley is our tiny warrior. Just after turning 2, in August 2022, Harley started having difficulty walking one day out of nowhere. It pained her to tears and she had to hold onto someone to walk or be carried. She was on Amoxicillin for an ear infection, and had also…

n April 11, 2024, after a rigorous selection process, Cassie + Friends and Brain Canada have selected two life-transforming and innovative research projects to receive a combined total of $480,00 in funding dedicated to transforming the lives and mental wellness of children and teens impacted by juvenile arthritis and other…

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…

We’re living in a time of exciting progress, where scientific breakthroughs are paving the way for better care for children and families dealing with pediatric rheumatic diseases. Every day, dedicated researchers, including those in our CREW Network, are pushing the boundaries of rheumatology care to create a brighter future for…

Did you know that March is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month in Canada? Here at Cassie + Friends, we have been raising awareness and providing support to the JA community since 2007! We are the only charity in Canada exclusively dedicated to the pediatric rheumatic disease community and our dedication shows!…

Living with a chronic illness is an unimaginable challenge, and Behcet’s Disease has been my constant companion in this journey. This rare autoimmune condition, characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, skin lesions, and systemic inflammation, has disrupted my life in many ways. However, my story took a positive turn when…

Bella is turning 7 this year and while most kids her age are focused on playing outside and colouring, Bella is dealing with the ups and downs of Muckle-Wells Syndrome which includes painful injections. As you can imagine, she has been struggling with the large doses of anakinra and the…

On the way towards a pain free future, let’s tackle one of the most difficult parts of pediatric rheumatic diseases – the injection experience. The treatments available for childhood rheumatic diseases like #JIA and #Lupus have significantly improved over time. Despite this, little has been done to address the often extreme…

#ConnectingJA transforms Misinformation. “Cassie + Friends has been such a great resource for my husband and I, our son, and even Lily to understand the disease more.” Parent of a child with JA, SK #ConnectingJA transforms Opportunities. “While I have completed the Future Leaders Program, these new skills will continue to serve…

Throughout my life I have been granted many titles; mom, wife, daughter, registered nurse, and writer are just a few. These are the titles that are associated with my name. I could be described as outgoing, humorous, modest, and perhaps kind too. These would be some characteristics that people from…

Meet Lily. One morning, at the young age of 2, our daughter Lily woke up limping and her left knee looked slightly swollen. She didn’t seem to show that she was in pain, but was refraining from putting weight on her left leg. We had no idea what happened and didn’t…

National Pediatric Rheumatology Mental Health Workgroup Cassie + Friends has led the formation of a new workgroup on Pediatric Rheumatology Mental Health to improve mental health care and outcomes for children with rheumatologic diseases. The goal of this Mental Health Workgroup is to develop strategies to improve research, care, and…