Let's go back in time. 12 months ago to be exact and take a look at what life was like at the end of my 21st year living with Juvenile Arthritis.
I don't know about anyone else but on my birthday I not only enjoy celebrating the past year of my life, but thinking about all that I have achieved.
This year I was 21 years old and looking back, Wow I have achieved some pretty amazing things for someone of my age with my type of disability.
Not only have I started an organisation that is dedicated to supporting Children living with Arthritis.
I have also been successful in not needing an infusion every 4 weeks and a tablet every morning to stay alive, rather just the little yellow tablet.
Come into contact with some amazing KAWarriors who suffer with Arthritis everyday and who have been supported by Kids Arthritis (Yes you, Emily and Kristy!)
Organised and hosted my very own event, Big Blue Night in support of Kids Arthritis.
Began Life Bursts, a radio show every Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm on Hills Radio, with my wonderful other host Matt and had fun learning everything radio again from Crash!
Created hundreds upon hundreds on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts all in support of Kids Arthritis.
Raised over $3,000 in support of Children with Arthritis.
Taken way too many selfies on my SnapChat, some even ended up on instagram; www.instagram.com/kidsarthritis
Thought Bitstrips were cool and annoyed all my friends with them.
Consumed too many cups of lemon tea while eating fresh fruit with oats, I say fruit with oats as there's always more fruits than oats.
Celebrated birthdays and deaths of love ones this year (this includes my pet chickens and ducks).
Had fun #Pranking4KidsArthritis with Rhys from RawCut and spending too much time infront of the camera telling lame jokes. www.youtube.com/pranks4kidsarthritis
Helped so many amazing people achieve their health and fitness goals through my Health and lifestyle group and personal training not only in my home town but Adelaide too!
www.facebook.com/sarahfitnessechunga
and the most important one.
Learnt that others do really care about my story, my pains and how I want to support Children with Arthritis. Before this year it was so hard but I thank everyone who has been apart of my life this year because you have helped shape me and made me believe that I really can change the world through supporting other children just like me with Arthritis.
Until next time.
Keep Smiling as you never know who's day you'll brighten.
Some of the wonderful Ladies Only Morning Fitness Class.
Myself and Emily at The Ethelton Entertainers Peformance this year. www.facebook.com/EtheltonEntertainers
"Arthritis doesn't just effect the elderly, it effects children too..."
Me at Big Blue Night for Kids Arthritis this year.
I love bringing Bursts of Peoples lives to our listeners every Wednesday on Life Bursts with Matt.
It's one of the highlights of my busy week.
Living with severe Juvenile Arthritis has it's problems.
Never ending pain, stiffness that just doesn't go away, constant reliant on medication, I could go on..
Driving is one of those things that most people take for granted.
Need more milk or bread? Just jump in the car and drive to the shops.
Got to pick up your friends from the work function? Just jump in the car and pick them up.
In the above two scenarios I've mentioned two of the problems I have l have living with Juvenile Arthritis.
You can never just "jump in the car' to get something. If having Juvenile Arthritis was that easy you'd all want it. Especially at night time it's the hardest.
Driving to and from my weekly radio show is a problem I have especially during the winter months, as by the end of the show it's pitch black!
Living in a small country town doesn't make it any easier due to the lack of public transport, sorry, no public transport at hours that anyone would want to use it.
I'm very lucky to have some sight in my left eye and each time I drive I'm grateful for the privilege.
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.
When I was 15 I took part in work experience at a local community radio station and at this time I had taken myself off Prednisolne and was quickly loosing weight that had been gained through this.
My passion for radio all started because of my Arthritis. At 12 years of age I was asked to have an interview on the SA Radio network ABC. From the moment I walked into the radio studio, it could see myself really liking this. Then when we were on air it just flowed so naturally and this is where the passion sparked.
If you have read my other blogs you will see time and time again that I don't look up to anyone or idolise anyone as I am my own hero, but in a radio sense. Peter Goers is the inspiration. When I am driving after 7pm only in the lighter months, you will hear his radio show bursting from my car.
I describe his shows to others as an old fashion type of program, which I love.
From my work experience it lead me to beginning a youth show on that very station and after 6 long years it was time to move on to bigger things in the industry.
Hills Radio was where just recently as a 21 year old created "Life Bursts" a show where my host and I bring a burst of peoples lives through the air waves to you.
Other radio shows interview people about their work and their job position but at Life Bursts it's all about where you came from and why you love life, which I find really interesting.
Radio is fun as a hobby as I get to meet new people and talk all I want as I produce and host the show with Matt my other host. We get along so well and couldn't ask for a better person to spend 2 hours in a room with each Wednesday afternoon. The passion flows from us both as we work as a team to do what we both love, radio.
Having Arthritis doesn't stop me from doing what I love and neither should things in life that you think are too hard stop you. Yes sometimes it's hard but just remember all those wonderful, pain free moments in your life and everything will be just fine.
Until next week,
Just keep smiling, as you never know who's day you'll brighten.
