I was first diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis when I was 10. The diagnosis hit me hard. I was too young to understand what it really meant, and had very little support. It was difficult for me to connect and relate with the doctors and social workers, especially at such a young age.

And then COVID hit. My parents were working on the front lines in the hospital, so they sent me to live with my grandparents since I was immunocompromised. That was an especially tough time. But the hardest part wasn’t just being away from my parents, it was not having any resources or guidance. If I had understood my disease better and had a support system in place, I wouldn’t have been as scared or overwhelmed.

This is why I created Stronger Together JA. I want there to be a safe space, where kids can feel supported and understood, especially by people who struggled with similar challenges.