Olivia's Story
Olivia was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at just 2 years old. Getting this disease under control was not easy in the beginning. Her family was forever changed because of this diagnosis.
Olivia was diagnosed with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) at just 2 years old. Getting this disease under control was not easy in the beginning. Her family was forever changed because of this diagnosis. Olivia's arthritis began in her knees and quickly spread to eight other joints over the span of just a couple months. The inflammation and pain caused by this disease even took away Olivia's ability to walk for a short time.
This sweet and happy toddler's life was put on a whole new path filled with countless doctor appointments, blood draws, weekly chemo and biologic injections, and physical and occupational therapy sessions. Things that come so easily to most children, such as writing, climbing a jungle gym and riding a bike, have not been easy for Olivia. But she has never let this disease hold her back from being the sweet and happy little girl she was before her JIA diagnosis.
Today, Olivia is 6 years old. She doesn't remember her life before the pain of juvenile arthritis, but she perseveres and grows stronger every day with the help of her rheumatologist and therapists. She is excelling in kindergarten and participates in cheerleading. She handles her weekly medication injections like a champ and has learned to advocate for herself and others like her. Her family is four years into her diagnosis, and while Olivia has handled all her treatments so well and progressed so much, they never know what's to come next. JIA is unpredictable, and no child should know what it is like to live with chronic pain. Olivia fights every day against juvenile arthritis, and it is her hope that others will join us in this fight to find a cure.
This sweet and happy toddler's life was put on a whole new path filled with countless doctor appointments, blood draws, weekly chemo and biologic injections, and physical and occupational therapy sessions. Things that come so easily to most children, such as writing, climbing a jungle gym and riding a bike, have not been easy for Olivia. But she has never let this disease hold her back from being the sweet and happy little girl she was before her JIA diagnosis.
Today, Olivia is 6 years old. She doesn't remember her life before the pain of juvenile arthritis, but she perseveres and grows stronger every day with the help of her rheumatologist and therapists. She is excelling in kindergarten and participates in cheerleading. She handles her weekly medication injections like a champ and has learned to advocate for herself and others like her. Her family is four years into her diagnosis, and while Olivia has handled all her treatments so well and progressed so much, they never know what's to come next. JIA is unpredictable, and no child should know what it is like to live with chronic pain. Olivia fights every day against juvenile arthritis, and it is her hope that others will join us in this fight to find a cure.