For kids with arthritis and their families, there is no better place to bond, learn and have fun with others who can empathize than the Arthritis Foundation’s annual Juvenile Arthritis (JA) Conference in July 2009.
Ashley Wolfe of Stockton, Calif., has been attending the conference since age 6. Now in her 20s, the University of California, Berkeley student wants all kids and families to know why going is one of the best things her parents have ever done for her (and themselves).
Ashley recently shared her reasons for attending the conference – and why you should, too.
Why did you first attend the conference?
My mom’s goal was to learn how to best help me manage my arthritis. The education she received was phenomenal. The eye-opening experience for me as a young girl who had been recently diagnosed was one of the best of my life. It was the first time I realized I wasn’t the only kid with arthritis. The comfort in knowing that is something that has lasted a lifetime.
What makes the conference so special?
First is the sheer magnitude of educational material and resources available, plus the amazing people you meet. Because everyone goes in united by a common thread, strangers quickly turn into friends.
What has the conference taught you?
As a child, I learned strategies for managing my pain, ways to explain to friends and teachers that I needed a break, how to know when I should stop, and more. The real joy was making new friends that understood why I took so many pills. They understood why I missed school all the time to go to the doctor. To this day, I am in contact with some of the people I met at my first conference at age 6.
How has the event changed your life?
The conference has left such a lasting impact on me that I now volunteer and work directly with the children there in order to give back to an event that has given so much to me.
What advice do you give others who are considering attending?
Go! If you want to learn how to help your kids, or if you want to learn how to keep your sanity as a parent of a child with arthritis, go. Your child will also feel that they are not the only one.
The Juvenile Arthritis Conference takes place every July. For more information, visit www.arthritis.org or contact Katie Bitner at 404/965-7538.
Thanks for your comment on www.ArthritisToday.org. The Foundation's JA Conference is a wonderful family event and is welcome to kids of all ages. Here is a link with information on this year's event:
http://www.arthritis.org/ja-alliance-main.php
It will be held July 29-August 1, 2010 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Hotel.
All the best,
Bryan
Lifestyle and Online Editor