Not 'Just a Girl' Anymore.

November 26th, 2016 the last Kids Arthritis Board Meeting for 2016. 

Kids Arthritis Board Members.

Sarah Hammond, Arsene Iribuka, Marjorie Hammond, Jenny Bennett, Rhys Jarrett, Brett Freeman

At this time I'd just been nominated for Start Up Adelaide Volunteer of the Year and was waiting eagerly for the ceremony. We also took a moment to look back on how far as an organisation we'd come. Everything that we'd achieved in our first year as Australia's First and Leading organisation, Kids Arthritis. 

Start Up Adelaide Volunteer of the Year Award.
Brett Freeman, Sarah Hammond, Mathew O'Donorfrio.
                                                                                






We just held our second annual Christmas Celebration for children, their families and careers living with Juvenile Arthritis and looking forward to the afternoon as it was our Board Christmas Lunch, but volunteer afternoon tea.

                                                                                    Emily, Sarah, Arthur the Arthritis Bear, Lucy.

You could say I was pretty happy and we were all excited about what we've all achieved together to Change the way the World views Arthritis. When in fact it was just the beginning to the excitement that was coming in 2017!

Monday 23rd January, 2017. Australia Day South Australia Awards 2017.

The day I was named South Australian Young Citizen of the Year. Not just nominated, but actually won this prestigious award. 

It was a great feeling knowing that finally after 23 years of living thinking that not many cared about what I lived with and doing through Kids Arthritis, everyone finally wanted to know and help out! The phone didn't stop ringing and emails kept flowing with interviews, letters of support and most importantly. Children, their families and carers reaching out and sharing their story living with Juvenile Arthritis. 

The awards didn't stop there. Next came Mount Barker Young Citizen of the Year and Mayor's Achievement Award on Australia Day 2017!

The best part of all this?

Not only was my family there, but supporters of Kids Arthritis and children who live with Juvenile Arthritis. This is extra special because these awards are not for me. They're for the 1 in 1000 Children in Australia living with Juvenile Arthritis. Everything that I do in my life is for them. For their families and careers as well. As I don't want any child, family or carers living the way I had to growing up.

To watch the videos or see everyone's smiles at both these exciting events, please head here: www.facebook.com/kidsarthritis

Just remember that "the ones who are crazy enough to change the world, are the ones that do."

The Beginning of a Changed World.

This photo of Tahila cuddling Arthur the Arthritis Bear taken by the wonderful Kids Arthritis Media Man, Rhys. Reminds me of how that one moment that someone actually listened to me about my Juvenile Arthritis struggles, is now helping so many others just like me. 

I had to create a movie looking back at how far not only Kids Arthritis had come in the past two years, but myself. From humble beginnings getting three supporters and myself around a table to discuss a way to create awareness. To a National Launch that attached not only local Identities, but community members from all over Australia together in one place. Not to mention a whole radio show on Hills Radio devoted to the world changing evening, with interviews from children, parents and community members all sharing in the cause.

We have now been named a fastest growing non for profit in our area. Offering more programs and holding more events in our first year of official operation than most other organisation of our age. This gives me great pride, as each day I awake no matter how much pain I'm in or fatigued I may be, to change the way the world views Arthritis. 

To some this is a huge fate, but to me, it's my life and will always be my life. The children I come in contact everyday all have one thing in common besides living with Juvenile Arthritis, that is; SUPPORT. 

Kids Arthritis is Australia's First organisation solely dedicated to supporting Children living with Arthritis. I know it's hard when you've lived an isolated life where you think no one understands about your child's disease, that someone or even a organisation out there really cares this much.

Well we do! We care about how your child feels, what's going on in their lives now and in the future. Not only that but, you as parents, grandparents and friends. What it feels like for you. Kids Arthritis Australia is here to help. We have parents, friends, children and professionals who live with Juvenile Arthritis everyday for you to talk to. We're all volunteers and are in it for you not for the money. We want to help and support children, their families and carers living with Juvenile Arthritis in any way possible.

If I read this ten or fifteen years ago, I would jump on the opportunity for a healthier and better life surrounded by others just like me, living just like me. If you're reading this now and know a child living with Juvenile Arthritis, please don't be ashamed to seek support from myself at Kids Arthritis Australia as we are here for you everyday. 

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.