The next time you’re having a crappy day, think of the 1000s of kids across the globe who are suffering because they have juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
JIA is one of those autoimmune diseases where the body aggressively attacks its joints and surrounding tissues. Day in and day out, people with this disease live—for the most part—with chronic pain, stiffness, and swelling in their joints and tissues. For some kids, their JIA is so painful that they cannot enjoy the life of a normal kid. They can’t play tag (for fear of falling and injuring themselves), they can’t ride a horse, or help their grandmothers stir cake batter…
But for more and more kids, there is hope!
Many are fortunate enough to have access to effective treatments, which they receive under their rheumatologist’s care! Yay!
There’s one such kid, a young positive 14-year-old, who has JIA and is shattering its negative image by inspiring others in the JIA community. What’s he doin? A lot, frankly! He’s helping to lead the way to raising thousands of dollars for research and has been collecting donations and buying toys for kids with JIA.
We’re talking the true spirit of Christmas: giving to others year-round!
I can only imagine how proud his parents must be. Ohhhhhhhh, if I could only meet his Mom! I wonder how she nurtured this compassionate spirit in her son to be so empowered.
