Hope Juvenile Arthritis Youth Honoree In November 2022, Hope was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis (JA) after experiencing stiffness, pain in her legs, difficulty writing in school, and sleepless nights screaming with intense pain. She was put on steroids, various medications, and had a procedure to drain fluid from her joints. Her rheumatologist recommended Arthritis Foundation resources, specifically the power pack. Hope and her mom found the power pack contents to be immensely helpful. Since her diagnosis, Hope attended the Arthritis Foundation’s JA family summit. Her mom, Courtney feels their souls and hearts felt more connected at the Summit than they have since Hope’s diagnosis. Through advocacy the family hopes to spread awareness and understanding of JA. The Arthritis Foundation is the first place they have felt understood in a very long year.
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