Whenever I see a child with juvenile arthritis (JA), my heart aches. Not because it’s especially hard to see a child who lives with a difficult condition – although, of course it is – but because of something a bit different. You see, I was once...
Remember when you were younger and someone would ask you, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” A typical response would be an astronaut, cowboy, policeman, actress, teacher or princess. However, for me, because of my chronic illness, my response was a...
Rheumatoid arthritis is currently an incurable disease that is very difficult to manage. I have no doubt that my story is not unique. In my 24 years of living with arthritis I have never experienced such improved changes in my disease activity as I have...
Early in her career, pediatric rheumatologist, Tiphanie Vogel, MD, PhD, cared for a seven-year-old boy with a rare form of juvenile arthritis (JA). She discovered that her young patient had a specific genetic mutation that damages multiple organs and severely affects the joints. Dr. Vogel, an...
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a cruel disease that ravages the joints, triggering flares of heat, swelling and recurrent pain. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is uniquely devastating, often striking children and teens with unpredictable bouts of severe pain and joint inflammation. Although JIA shares many symptoms...
Julia was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis (JA) at the age of 13. While many of her joints remain currently unaffected by the disease, she tends to feel the most pain in her hands. Julia was always looking to find ways to cope with juvenile arthritis,...
As a teenager, there are a few rites of passage you typically experience: getting your license, going to fun events and staying out late with friends. But what if some of these “firsts” are not promised? What if they aren’t a given? What if instead...
Being a teenager is tough, but being a teenager with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) presents a completely new set of obstacles. Britney Moreno, age 16, knows this all too well as she was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at the age of 4. Although she’s...
Most kids ask Santa for toys, trips, clothes, etcetera, but Mabel wanted something more. This past Christmas, she asked Santa for a cure for her Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. She said, "Dear Santa, I have been very good. What I would like is a cure...
Jessica takes to the pavement with her high school marching band, drumsticks in hand, ready to perform. Upon first glance, you would never be able to tell she went from being wheelchair-bound due to juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), to marching in two parades in only...