Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

July 9, 2020July 9, 2020

‘Inside Out’ Helps Kids With JA Talk About Their Feelings

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

I’m a giant Disney nerd. So when “Inside Out” came out a few years ago, I had to see it. While I loved the jokes and colorful animation, I was ... Read more

July 2, 2020July 6, 2020

Is Remote Learning the Best Option for Kids with JA?

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

I chuckled, looking at pictures of my little cousin on a Zoom call with her classmates. It looked like the world’s cutest business meeting. Twenty smiling faces, so happy to ... Read more

June 25, 2020June 26, 2020

How to Thoughtfully Raise Awareness About Juvenile Arthritis

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

Ten years ago, a Disney Channel special inspired me to start an online journal. Almost every day after school, I curled up next to the family dog and wrote a ... Read more

June 18, 2020June 18, 2020

During JA Flares, Just Keep Moving Forward

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

It felt like gravity was pulling me down. I was trying to walk up a hill, but my legs felt like jelly. Worse, my hips were screaming in pain. They ... Read more

June 11, 2020June 12, 2020

When Juvenile Arthritis Predicts the Weather

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

A few weeks ago, I couldn’t get comfortable. I sat on the couch, fidgeting and shifting, but couldn’t find any relief. Climbing into bed and propping my knees with pillows didn’t do ... Read more

June 4, 2020June 5, 2020

Feeling Overwhelmed by Pediatric Rheumatology Appointments?

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

I was sweet 16 and ready for the summer of a lifetime: I had my first boyfriend, great friends, and tons of adventures planned. It also was the summer I ... Read more

May 28, 2020May 29, 2020

Do Kids with Juvenile Arthritis Need Gluten-free Diets?

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

Every time I turn around, people claim yet another diet will cure arthritis or other autoimmune diseases. Some of the most popular ones at the moment are the paleo and ... Read more

May 21, 2020May 22, 2020

Being Diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis as a Teenager Is Tough

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

At 13, I found a love for fashion history. I regularly scrolled online archives of fashion photos, and my favorites detailed the styles of the day for children’s and young ... Read more

May 14, 2020May 15, 2020

What to Do When Juvenile Arthritis Pain Makes It Hard to Focus

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

I had three great column ideas I’ve been thinking about all week. But when I sat down to write, nothing came to me. I would write a few sentences, often ... Read more

May 7, 2020May 8, 2020

4 Ways to Help Kids with JA Finish Their Homework

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

I hated Wednesday nights in third grade. In addition to my usual assignments, I had to work on my vocabulary journal. I had to copy each vocab word five times, ... Read more

February 27, 2020May 8, 2020

My Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis Makes Me Rare

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

With Rare Disease Day around the corner, I have been reflecting on how uncommon it is to have my diagnosis. Juvenile arthritis (JA) affects about 300,000 kids in the U.S., ... Read more

February 20, 2020May 8, 2020

The Spoon Theory Can Help Parents of Kids with JA to Empathize

COVID-19 Columns, Juvenile Arthritis News Columns

When thinking about arthritis, one doesn’t usually associate it with chronic fatigue. But juvenile arthritis doesn’t only cause joint pain, it also often brings on flu-like symptoms and fatigue. As ... Read more