“I’m able to make the most of my life with the people I love” – Jas’ story
I was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in 2017 at age 7.
I was unable to walk, which was pretty rough considering I was a child. Late 2020 rolled around, and my parents and I thought we had learned how to manage my health and medications. Then another curveball was thrown at us. I started getting some extreme stomach pains after everything I ate; however, as lots of people would relate to, I was told it was probably anxiety-related. After a year (mid-2021), I was sent to see a gastroenterologist for more testing — only then was I diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. I was put on a liquid diet for 6 weeks, which in itself was quite isolating. I found it difficult to hang out with my friends because they were all able to sit down and eat together, and it felt like torture watching them eat all the foods I wished I could eat, while I sat there with my Ensure Plus drink, which I had packed in my bag.
Although everyone around me, especially my parents, were extremely supportive, it was something nobody else had gone through, so it felt like no one really understood what I was going through. I was 13 and unable to eat food. Even as someone who’s gone through it, I don’t think I would know how to approach trying to help someone else that young go through something so difficult. I was put on Infliximab which, in short, changed my life.
Even though I have been in remission for a couple of years now, I still find that it affects me. I’m currently in year 12, and managing chronic illnesses as a teenager never gets any easier. I’m in the hospital every 6 weeks for treatment which makes school a lot more stressful, especially during such a big year.
I honestly forget this isn’t the norm for everyone my age. This because the hospitals, appointments, and medications all became normal to me at a very young age.
Of course, everyone always has lots of questions that sometimes I don’t know how to answer, because at the end of the day, I am still learning how to navigate this.
Being a young person with chronic illnesses really shifts your perspective on things. It’s important to accept it as a part of your life and to know that it’s something you are stronger than. To whatever extent you can, control the disease; don’t let it control you.
I’m glad that with the help of doctors and my medications, I’m able to make the most of my life with the people I love.
Sharing my story is important to me because this disease can be very isolating. Whether you’ve just been diagnosed or you’ve had it for years. It’s encouraging to hear other people’s stories and know that you are not alone on this journey.
So many other people are experiencing this too.