Welcome to The Road So Far
I grew up with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) long before the medical world understood what childhood arthritis truly was. The terminology has changed to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and the research has evolved, but the impact of growing up with a childhood illness stays with you long after you age out of pediatrics.
This blog is where I finally tell that story. I write about what it means to grow up with a chronic illness, to build a life around it and beyond it, and to keep becoming yourself along the way. Not just the early treatments and surgeries, but the lessons, the workarounds, the quiet truths, and the hard-won clarity that only lived experience can teach.
Alongside my lessons learned, you’ll find small markers of how childhood arthritis care has evolved. It reflects not just my own road, but the road medicine has taken.
Some of my story is medical, but most of it is simply human.
If you live with JIA, grew up with JRA/JIA, love someone who does, or are just looking for honest reflections on resilience and identity, I’m glad you’re here.
This is my road so far!
Featured Post
A Note to You, the Reader
If you’re new here, this is the best place to start.
A brief note to help you understand the heart behind this space and what you may find within it.
Where to Go From Here 🌿
My story, and the stories of those who walk this road, live across five paths. Each one offers something different: guidance, memory, perspective, support, or simply the parts of life that happen alongside JIA.
Choose the path that fits what you need today:
1. For Those Currently on a JIA Journey
Supportive tools, gentle practices, and real‑world guidance for navigating symptoms, fatigue, communication, and daily life with JIA.
→ Start with: The Importance of the Self Check-In
2. For Parents of Kids with JIA
Emotional support, communication strategies, advocacy guidance, and reflections written for parents walking beside a child with JIA.
→ Start with: The Emotional Side of JIA for Parents: Fear, Guilt, and Hope
3. Lessons Learned from a Lifetime of JIA
Hard‑won clarity, lived experience, and the truths that only decades with JIA can teach.
→ Start with: 5 Things I Wish People Understood About Juvenile Arthritis
4. Stories of Reflection & Memory-
Childhood stories, early treatments, identity‑shaping moments, and the memories that formed the foundation of my journey.
→ Start with: “Look Mom, I Can See You!” – Resilience in the Face of JIA
5. Everything In Between
Life beyond illness. The chapters, transitions, creativity, and personal reflections that don’t fit neatly anywhere else.
→ Start with: Music Chapter: Finding Joy Beyond Illness
Hi! I’m Teresa 🙂
I’m someone who grew up under the old JRA label and spent years trying to make sense of what that meant. Medically, emotionally, and practically. This space is where I bring together the history, the lived experience, the lessons learned and the quiet truths that shaped my life.
I’m grateful you’ve found your way here.
A Space for Us
Living with chronic illness can feel isolating, even when you’re surrounded by people who care. No matter what brought you here – your story, your curiosity, or your support for someone you love – you’re welcome here.
If you ever feel like sharing, I’d be honoured to listen.
My Most Recent Posts
- Life as a JIA Parent: What Your Child Will Remember
- Music Chapter: Finding Joy Beyond Illness
- The Emotional Side of JIA for Parents: Fear, Guilt, and Hope
- What I Wish My Parents Had Known: A Letter to Today’s JIA Parents
- When Your Child Doesn’t Want to Talk About Their Pain
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To see all my posts, please select Blog in the top menu. Enjoy your day and again, thanks for stopping by!
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