parenthood

“I am hoping our daughter will be able to meet other girls her age with arthritis.” “Willing to do anything to learn more about JIA.” “We are hoping to connect with other families that have been through the hard time of arthritis and are trying to have a normal childhood…

Last month, Cassie and Friends’ Juvenile Arthritis at School Puppet Show hit the road to bring juvenile arthritis education to the Okanagan! The special puppet show, which was offered free-of-charge to schools by Cassie and Friends with support from a $10,000 grant from the Telus Friendly Futures Foundation, tells the story of Cassie…

My daughter Elena was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at age 2. Arthritis? That was an elderly person’s disease, I thought. I had no idea the depth of the disease or what would lie ahead for us. First, she started with redness and swelling in her knees. I took her into the doctor…

For many children with JIA or other rheumatic diseases, physical challenges at school can be huge barriers, particularly when it comes to gym class. In a recent study, researchers found that 38% of kids with JIA were unable to participate in gym with their peers. Paired with misunderstanding and lack of…

As stressful and painful as experiencing a flare can already be at home, the idea of travelling with a flare may sometimes seem downright impossible. With some help however, you and your child can still enjoy taking a trip together. These are Cassie and Friends community member and mother Tanya…

Tanya Cassidy Irwin is a mother and Cassie and Friends community member from Langley, BC. This is her story of navigating pain, travel, medication and the unknown throughout her daughter Emily’s journey with Oligoarticular JIA.    In September 2015 there was the most subtle of hitches in our daughter Emily’s…

Our annual Family Day conference for Juvenile Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases is in JUST ONE WEEK – and we can’t wait! On Saturday, October 13th, we’ll welcome over 370 kids, families and friends for a life-changing day of connection, learning and fun at the Delta Burnaby Conference Centre in…

Giving back is deeply rooted in the culture of Vancouver-based Nicola Wealth Management, and this year the Nicola Wealth Gives Back Charitable Giving Committee is showing just how deep that commitment goes when it comes to supporting both kids with arthritis, and their own staff.  Cassie and Friends is pleased to announce Nicola Wealth as our new “Champion…

I want to let you know why I am walking this Charity Challenge for Cassie and Friends.  “Autoimmunity is the system of immune responses of an organism against its own healthy cells and tissues. Any disease that results from such an aberrant immune response is termed an ‘autoimmune disease.’” My…

On Thursday, April 19th, the members of the Cassie and Friends Society Board, youth leaders and parent volunteers came together for our Annual General Meeting. We are excited to share the report provided by Cassie and Friends’ Co-Founder and Board Chair, David Porte, outlining the amazing things we’ve been able…

Cassie and Friends Society, in partnership with Arthritis Consumer Experts, is leading a call for the BC Government to drastically improve the outlook of children with SJIA by allowing reimbursement coverage for canakinumab for the small number of children who need it. Our campaign for equitable access has now reached the media,…