It's the most wonderful time of the year!

"It's the most wonderful time of the year."

I think the above phrase should be changed to.

"It's the most painful and inflaming time of the year."

Why you ask?

In Australia Christmas Time is during summer. Our Summers reach a low of 28 degrees to a high of 42 degrees and higher. This sudden change in temperature every day activates my Arthritis and sends my inflammation sky high!

When I was a child and for 13 years in a row, this is the time of year I was admitted to hospital to have inflammation around my joints removed or a surgery to do with medication abuse and side effects. Most of the time it was for both and it would take me out of school for 4 to 5 days straight.

Now missing school is every child's wish, but for me. It never was. 

My wish was to be able to attend school so I could learn new and exciting things, but to also have the social aspect with my friends. 

As adults if we don't keep in contact with a person, we essentially loose them as a friend. This is what happens to a child with Arthritis. Due to pain, inflammation and stiffness. The child must go see a doctor which then leads to time away from school, which then leads to loss of social contact. That finally leads to a whole lot of problems which a child doesn't need in their lives.

These children just like me suffer every day in pain and stiffness which means they may find it hard to do every day things. This was the case for me around this time every year.

"What do you have swollen this year Sarah?" is what my friends always ask me.

Well this year it's quite exciting (please note my amazing sarcasm skills) my left elbow is quite warm, is much larger than my right one and it hurts so much that I just don't know how I managed to type this blog post. 

Except we all know how I managed to write this post. It is because no matter what time of the year it is, or how much pain I am in. I live for supporting children just like me living with Arthritis. As I always say; there's no point giving up because what I suffered with as a child would all be a waste.

Until next time,

Keep smiling as you never know who's day you'll brighten. 

There's more to Sarah

As you have read in other posts (if you haven't read any others, you now have to) I do more than just Kids Arthritis.

I come from a community minded family. For as long as I can remember Monday nights dad has always attended Country Fire Service volunteer meetings. Since I turned 17 years old and my Arthritis became easier to manage my mum has been volunteering with the elderly through community activities on a full time bases. My brother has always been apart of Country Fire Service Volunteer Cadets, so that one day he can be a volunteer like dad as well. 

Then there's me.

From the age of 12 years old I have volunteered with the local Kids Club. I first started as the dish washer then moved to not only becoming apart of the team but organising and running the games. These days I organise and present the story and help with craft creation all still part of the same team. This is something I have always enjoy as I love helping children grow and develop. I have done my days of childcare work and realised it just wasn't for me.

Life Bursts on Hills Radio is another passion and hobby of mine. When people ask what I do in my off time they are shocked that one of my hobbies is being on the radio. As I have mentioned before in another blog post. I find radio not only fun but rewarding, as I get to meet new people every week and hear a Burst of their Lives with the help of Matt.

I have fun every Monday transforming people's lives through health and fitness. If you have watched any of the Sarah Talks videos you will know all about this. 
When I was younger the physiotherapist would give me a new exercise sheet every monthly visit and ask the same question. 

"Will you do your exercises this month Sarah?"

My answer would always be.

"Yes, of course"

Why did I lie? Why couldn't I just tell her how I really felt?

Growing up in a world where people don't know that Children live with Arthritis is hard, so it was hard for me to speak up and tell her the reason why I wouldn't do my exercises. (Now you have to check out my videos to find the answer: www.youtube.com/pranks4kidsarthritis)

So from being a child who didn't enjoy exercise to someone who one day said;
"Mum can you please take me to become a Personal Trainer?"
Was a huge shock to everyone around me who know how bad my Arthritis really was.

Now I inspire my wonderful clients each week with the battles I went through just to be here, and for all of you who are now asking. Yes I do enjoy exercise, I now do it every morning just to unstiffen my joints for the rest of the day.

There is more to me than just 'That Girl with Arthritis' rather I am a women of all trades who loves just being helpful in my community.

Until next week,

Keep Smiling as you never know who's day you'll brighten.

This week Sarah is dairy intolerant.

This weeks post gets its name from Rhys from RawCutAU. This guy does so much for Kids living with Arthritis I swear he gets sick of my voice because of all the editing he does for the videos.

For the last couple of months when I have had my late morning dose of caffeine, all thanks to the reoccurring Lupus that just doesn't want to give me a break. I have felt quite sick afterwards and sometimes it wouldn't stay down, rather come back up again.

When you have Arthritis doctors sometimes can not give you an answer. You can spend hours having tests done to get back the results you knew you were going to get. After a life of wasting hours doing this, I now sometimes try to find out the matter before going to see a doctor.

On this occasion I knew that milk upset me but wasn't sure whether all dairy would have the same effect, so when my friends went out for pizza. I joined them to see how the dairy in pizza would effect me. Same reaction as the milk but this time it actually stayed inside me.
I tried different dairy and came to the conclusion that the Arthritis has changed my immune system once again and now Soy Milk is my best friend. 

As I do at Kids Arthritis we are open and share with one another what is going on in our lives. 
It was a Wednesday and it was filming day for #Pranks4KidsArthritis and Rhys was pouring coffees as he usually does. Before it came to mine I had to interrupt him and pour soy milk into mine rather than dairy milk. I explained to him the story I have just told you and this is how the title for this weeks post came about. 

Having Arthritis doesn't just effect your joints but sometimes your internal organs as well. All Arthritis medications are designed to alter the child's body to help it keep their disease under control. If you ever do experience any unusual feelings even if you don't have Arthritis, please speak with a doctor. I have had Arthritis long enough that if something isn't right, I will try and fix it within reason and then head to the doctor, because if I didn't I should live in a hospital.

So to Rhys who not only volunteers his time support Children living with Arthritis but to a dear friend who is a listening ear and a laughing companion, thank you for all that you do. You really are someone special.

Until next time,

Keep smiling as you never know who's day you'll brighten.