March is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. Do you think only adults suffer from arthritis? Not true. More than 24,000 Canadian children live with arthritis; making activities a challenge. In fact, arthritis is one of the more common disorders resulting in chronic disability in children and teens in Canada. Explaining arthritis to children can be tough…which is why a comic book on childhood arthritis is so timely…
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
As an adult, I’ve often heard people older than I speak of the pain of arthritis. How it hinders gardening. How it acts up from time to time. How it affects a stroll down the street. However, you don’t think of how childhood arthritis affects kids. It affects development. Activity. Play.
And having a child with a serious illness myself…I understand how difficult it can be explaining the inner workings of the body and the aspects of a disease…in terms a child can understand. You talk in circles, try to make hand gestures describing what a body does and doesn’t do, even draw pictures…but it never really sinks in. This is why, I think, a professionally made comic book like MediKidz works.
AbbVie Canada in partnership with The Arthritis Society developed a comic book on childhood arthritis, giving kids (and parents) access to medical information they can understand. The book is based on a gang of 5 larger-than-life superheroes, each of whom specializes in different parts of the human body. The characters in the comic book are designed to be fun and appealing to young people so that entertainment and education can happen in tandem. The digital version is available for download at www.arthritis.ca/childhood.
Disclosure: this post is in partnership with AbbVie Canada. Opinions are my own.
Wow, I actually had no idea that kids got arthritis. Thank you so much for helping to raise awareness for this.
The girl I went to college with had arthritis and she had it she she was born. I always feel bad for her but she always had a very positive outlook on life. It is definitely helped me have a better outlook on life too. Thank you for raising awareness.
An old boss of mine had a daughter with arthritis. This is a great campaign to educate people better on the topic!
I have a friend whose daughter was recently diagnosed with JRA and it has been a struggle for their family. I love seeing a campaign to help kids adapt to living with this disease.
The comic book is a nice way of presenting this important info in a fun way. I can see why awareness for juvenile arthritis is so important.
I really had no idea about juvenile arthritis. It is amazing that even young people can suffer from it.
Oh wow. I had no idea that kids could get arthritis. That is awful! I’m glad there are people working to help make it better.
Ugh. That is awful. I have a little arthritis brewing now. I can’t imagine that stiffness and pain as a child. That is so sad.
What is such a smart way to teach kids about arthritis. My niece suffered from JRA.
I was born with an arthritic left knee. Oh man did it ache growing up!
I have a friend that has had arthritis since he was 8. It has been hard to see him suffer for so long. I am glad there is an awareness month.
It’s so sad that kids can get arthritis. I suffer from it and it can control your life for sure.
I don’t know anyone that suffers from this. I could imagine how difficult it may be too. I’m glad to hear there are more helping with this though.
I’ve had family members suffer from arthritis. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be!
I had no idea that there are kids suffering from arthritis. Glad you shared this. Such a great way to raise awareness. Thanks for sharing!
My step daughter has arthritis in her back. Its something that should be discussed more and be aware of.
Maybe this comic book will help her!
That must be such a challenge
I didn’t know you could be born with arthritis. See I’m learning already…
Totally agree. This campaign is so child-centred.
I didn’t know either…I guess that proves this awareness campaign is needed.