March is childhood arthritis month!

Hi everyone! The Arthritis Society of Canada has declared March as childhood arthritis month. Make sure you check out their site and spread the word about childhood arthritis.

Awareness of childhood arthritis is important, because it is such an unknown condition. Autoimmune arthritis is sometimes used as an umbrella term to include conditions such as Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Vasculitis etc. – all conditions in which the immune system starts to attack parts of own bodies, causing inflammation and destruction.

I recently found this touching video of (then) 5-year old Sam Lincoln, who lives with Juvenile Arthritis. To see a tiny young person dealing with such a painful illness really hurts my heart. Sam, I wish you best of luck in your treatment and hope your arthritis will calm down eventually!

If you have grown up with autoimmune arthritis, you will know firsthand the challenges of being a chronically ill child in a world which is not used to seeing kids with chronic illness. Children with illness are often teased due to their limps or physical challenges. Perhaps worse than that is the fact that they are often believed to be faking the pain.

If someone puts you down or does not understand your arthritis, stand up for yourself. You don’t have to get angry, but you can tell them about your arthritis and how it affects you. Use the opportunity to educate others. How will people know what we’re dealing with if we don’t speak up, right?

Happy childhood arthritis month guys! Sending you all gentle hugs! 😉

❤ Ms. Rainbow

Happy first birthday to RA Rainbow!

Hi everyone! I just realized that it’s been a year since I first posted (and started!) this website! So happy first birthday to RA Rainbow! 🙂

(Image by pixabay.com)

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it on this site, but when I started writing articles on here, I was actually laid up in bed, healing from a foot surgery. I wasn’t sure if anyone would read what I wrote, but I figured I’d put it out there in case there were any other young persons who could relate to the same things I’ve experienced (and still experience) with autoimmune arthritis. And the response so far has been positive and often touching. Thank you guys for being part of this journey with me and for sharing your lives and experiences with me as well – together we learn so much. Through this site I have been able to connect with so many wonderful people who face similar situations and I’m thankful for that. Together, we are getting through life with our respective situations and that’s pretty amazing.

THANK YOU!!!! 🙂 😉

Have a great weekend everyone!
❤ Ms. Rainbow

 

SeriousFun camps for kids and teens with arthritis

Hi everyone! Today I wanted to share something very magical which I discovered a while ago – the global network of SeriousFun camps! The SeriousFun camps are specifically designed for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses who ordinarily would not have the opportunity to go to a regular summer camp due to their condition. At camp kids can do archery, boating, arts and crafts, skits, adventure courses and just have a great time. These camps offer an amazing chance for kids to bond with others like themselves in a safe, universally accessible environment (at no cost!). The concept for these camps started in 1988 by the late actor, Mr. Paul Newman, who launched The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for children with serious illnesses in Ashford, CT. There is currently a whole network of camps across the USA and around the world! Many of these camps hold sessions for children and teens with arthritis! Can you believe that? A camp for kids with arthritis?! 🙂

The camps run year around, with weekend camps during the year and week-long sessions during the summer. I am much too old to apply as a camper, but if you are eligible, you might want to check it out! Check out the list of camps here.

If you have ever been to one of these camps, please share your experience in the comments!

Thanks and hope you guys are hanging in there,

❤ Ms. Rainbow