Living with Juvenile Arthritis

Book excerpt: Parenting a child with a chronic illness is not simply a full-time job; it’s an all-time job. Quite unlike most other jobs in life, your first day as the parent of a child with juvenile arthritis usually begins with little or no training, no orientation, and no helpful coworkers or encouraging boss to lead you through the ropes. You’ll be required to gain confidence and comfort in this job, day by day, through your own research and discoveries, your intuition, your inner strength, and your enduring love for your child. Living with Juvenile Arthritis: A Parent’s Guide provides support to parents and caregivers of children with juvenile arthritis through helpful tips and guidance from a parent who has successfully navigated the challenges of raising two children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Allow author Kimberly Poston Miller to help you and your family find your path. Learn more about arthritis, its symptoms, diagnosis scenarios, treatment options, managing pain, and handling flare-ups. Discover strategies for dealing with the unpredictability and individuality of your child’s condition. Build a support team of health-care professionals, cultivate healthy relationships within your family, and focus on what’s most important—raising a happy, well-adjusted child.