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
RArainbow 