Jamie Young
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
AOPII Honoree
 At 12 months old, Jamie wasn’t walking and sleeping. Instead, she was dealing with rashes, fevers and eye infections. The Children’s Hospital in Chicago discovered she was the youngest child at that time to receive the juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) diagnosis in the US.
Living with a chronic inflammatory disease has significantly shaped her educational journey in ways she never could have anticipated. Throughout school, she’s faced frequent absences due to flare-ups, hospital visits, and the side effects of medications. Missing so much school made it hard to keep up academically and socially, and at times, she felt isolated from her peers.
Jamie wants to be the person who helps other children facing medical challenges feel seen, supported, and understood. Her advice to other kids facing diagnosis is to “advocate for yourself in both the classroom and during your medical care. It's okay to ask for help, whether that means requesting accommodations at school, seeking mental health support, or working with medical professionals who truly listen." She also wants to emphasize the importance of raising awareness and sharing your story. "Your experiences, even the extremely difficult challenges, can shape you into a stronger advocate not only for yourself but also for others.”
Join or support Jamie's team, Kids Get Arthritis Too, today! |
Jeffrey Martin is the co-founder of ePlatinumHealth, an independent insurance agency that assists people to find plans that best meet their individual needs whether with the Affordable Health Care Act or Medicare.
Shikha Singla, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she serves as the Director of the psoriatic arthritis program. This program encompasses an interdisciplinary approach to the management of patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This is the only such dermatology/rheumatology clinic in the state of Wisconsin. Dr Singla is also the Co-Director of the rheumatology ultrasound clinic. Her research interests include psoriatic disease where she aims to improve the quality of life of patients through patient centered studies.
Gabi Conklin was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when she was 42 and was placed on oral medication, which worked at keeping her flare-ups at bay. 10 years later, her flares were ‘reignited’ to the point of difficulty getting out of bed. Her hands started growing red patches, and lifting and grasping became very painful. She was then prescribed a weekly biologic and overnight, her pain had gone. 
In 2018 at 3 years old, Avery was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), although her symptoms started well before then. Her family was scared, yet relieved to find an answer as to why their little girl couldn’t walk like the rest of the kids her age.