Thirteen year old Reese from Whitby, Ontario was diagnosed with JIA at age two, but she has never let this get in the way of her athletic goals. Read her story of perseverance and strength below, and join Reese and her entire Aurora Panthers Bantam AA hockey team on October 21st as they lead Team Cassie and Friends in the Toronto Waterfront 5K Charity Challenge!

All my life, I didn’t understand the disease or why I had lots of pain or why I had to take so many medications, needles, IVs or why I had to see my doctors at Sick Kids Hospital so much. Now that I’m older, I have just accepted my situation as normal and I’ve done my best to just do what is necessary.

So far, I have put my disease out of my mind and just pushed through playing every sport I could, at the highest levels! I love competing, I love sports and I love being active so I don’t let it stop me – EVER.  I’ve hit plenty of roadblocks that required regular injections or IV infusions, changing medications all the time, constant blood work, new procedures or new ways to manage pain.  I have used every kind of leg brace, ankle brace, wrist brace and orthotics and now there are some signs of long term damage. At one point, one of the medications did too much damage to my liver and I had to stop meds to let it heal. However, I never once thought about changing anything about my crazy active life!

I liked to keep my situation private. I don’t like people to know I manage this disease because I want to be strong and fit and not have any excuses. With all my trips to Sick Kids appointments or for IV Infusions or blood work, I’ve missed school or practices but I usually say its for another reason because I’m a fully committed athlete and student.  I’m slowly learning that it’s not about being weak and maybe I could support other kids, especially girls, who might think they can’t do something when I know they can with the right support. I’m learning that I can’t just ignore it and have to take charge of my health so I can achieve all the things I want while still being a good example for other kids who are learning how to manage.

Lots of girls stop playing sports at my age and even more stop if they deal with any kind of chronic pain.  I want girls to know that NOTHING should stop you from what you want  even if it’s sports, music, art or anything you love. I train hard and I have big athletic goals that I intend to reach. I may be learning how to be more open about my condition but I will never, ever let it get in my way.