For those of us who live each day affected by juvenile arthritis or another rheumatic disease, it can often feel like there is no one who can understand what we are going through. Although this can feel isolating, when we share our juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic disease stories with one another they show us that we’re not alone. Sharing your story by speaking from personal experience has the power to inspire, provide hope and build community.

This is the story of Kayla who is 11 years old from Surrey, BC, loves school and has juvenile arthritis. 

My name is Kayla. I am 11 years old.  I got JA in 2009 when I was two.  I am now taking methotrexate which I do not like taking it makes me feel sick.  I am in remission right now in 2018 and have been in remission for the past few months.  I have my methotrexate on Friday nights and I take them by injection.  I started by taking the methotrexate pills but that did not work out for me.  I am afraid of throwing up because I used to take gravel before the methotrexate and it was supposed to help but it made me feel much worse to the point where I did throw up.  Now I take a pill an hour before methotrexate that works out much better for me.   When I was in kindergarten 2012 or 2013 can’t remember that was the hardest year for me because I also have uveitis.  My mom would have to come to my school every lunch to give me eye drops.  I would not like it when I was at home sometimes it would be a struggle to get the eye drops in but at school I couldn’t wait to go back to class because I loved school and I still do.

You can read more stories like Kayla’s and share your own at cassieandfriends.ca/our-stories!