Life with PFAPA: Kai’s Journey from Diagnosis to Now We’re honoured to share a guest blog from one of our incredible youth in the community, Kai. Diagnosed with PFAPA at just seven years old, Kai faced more than most kids his age. Read more about Kai and his journey below. Looking to [...]
World Lupus Day: Hunter’s Journey from Diagnosis to Mentorship and Research This World Lupus Day, we’re honoured to share a guest blog from one of our incredible youth mentors, Hunter. Diagnosed with lupus at just nine years old, Hunter faced more than most kids his age. Now at 24, Hunter works as [...]
Blending Lived Experience with Research: Brittany's Story Hi! I’m Brittany – and I’m here to share with you a bit about my experience as someone who works in health research and lives with Ankylosing Spondylitis! I currently work as a Senior Research Associate at the University of [...]
From Patient to Pediatric Rheumatologist: Dr. Molly Dushnicky Dr. Molly Dushnicky’s story sounds like a lot of her patients’: When she was just 18 months old, she stopped walking, her knees wouldn’t bend easily, and she wasn’t her usual happy self. That’s when she was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis [...]
When a child is living with a rare rheumatic disease, answers often take time. Families may face long diagnostic journeys, unpredictable symptoms, and too few resources designed for their realities. Too often, their experiences remain unseen. RareTalks is a space created to change that. Held during Rare Disease Month, this annual virtual event brings together families, [...]
A recent report by Mental Health Research Canada underscores the pressing need for improved access to mental health services for youth. Vulnerable groups, including those already managing chronic conditions, face particularly steep challenges. Among these, youth with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and other rheumatic diseases experience disproportionately high rates of anxiety, depression, and [...]
A Year of Advocacy and Impact: Our 2024 Highlights If it seems like we were everywhere this year - we were! We never turn down an opportunity to raise awareness about childhood rheumatic diseases or advocate for more resources for our community. That’s what makes Cassie + Friends the leading voice for [...]
#WhyIRun The Saskatchewan Pediatric Rheumatology Research IDEA Lab Did you know that the University of Saskatchewan has one of the longest, continuously operating pediatric rheumatology research programs in the world? Read more to learn why the IDEA lab is proud to partner with Cassie + Friends and support activities like our annual [...]
A Canadian Registry for Autoinflammatory Diseases The CAN-SAID Initiative Great news for Canadian autoinflammatory patients of all ages: Canada is getting its own registry for systemic autoinflammatory diseases! What exactly is a systemic autoinflammatory disease? Systemic autoinflammatory diseases (SAID) currently include over 50 rare conditions that are caused by uncontrolled [...]
Congrats, Dr. Andrea Knight! The Cassie + Friends community is proud to celebrate Dr. Andrea Knight for receiving a prestigious research grant from the CARRA-Arthritis Foundation. Dr. Knight is the only lead investigator from Canada to receive an award this year - which is a big deal! Dr. Knight [...]
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