At the beginning of 2017 I shared with you all about “The Day I Lost my Sight”. Through writing this about my blindness in my right eye due to my Juvenile Arthritis that began in my teenage years, many reached out to me and Kids Arthritis to share their stories and access support.
During October 2017 I visited my Opthamologist, had some scans of my eyes and this was all fine, but the result wasn’t.
Once again I was back in the big blue chair and on the screen were the images which had been taken.
What happened next, changed my life.
On the screen, I saw the scan of the back of my eye and what was showing were some tiny
‘bubbles’ in the left eye (my seeing eye). These bubbles aren’t friendly bubbles, they’re Macular Degeneration.
The look on the Opthamologist face said it all.
Surprised, upset and unsure of how this could come about. All the medical treatments are
supposed to prevent this from happening, but still it has occured.
But you know what I did in that moment. I didn’t get angry or upset. I thought about the 1 in
1000 children in Australia living with Juvenile Arthritis. About how much pain they’re in right now and everyday
, thinking they’re the only ones living like this. I also thought how much they need someone like me who can stand up for them living with Juvenile Arthritis and Kids Arthritis tosupport them and show them that it’s going to be ok.
Medical professionals don’t know yet when my sight will disappear, but what I do know is that with your help
we can ensure that more children living with Juvenile Arthritis, who could be going through this situation don’t
need to do it alone.
What were you doing at 17 years of age?
Had you finished school? Were you dating your current partner? Annoying your siblings? or all of the above?
At age 17 I asked my mother if she would take me to the Australian Institute of Fitness in Adelaide to apply for study.
This was a HUGE shock to my family, as I'd always despised exercise due to the pain of it all and the lack of motivation due to it. I could understand and control my Juvenile Arthritis more by this age and wanted to learn how to help others through health and fitness.
Sure enough we headed from the Adelaide Hills to the big smoke, hopped on the new Adelaide trams (for the Adelaide residents among you) and headed to the Institute. After a few hours we walked out and I was accepted to gain a Health and Fitness Qualification.
Due to completing Year 11 and 12 at the time, I had to take on the study as part of my SACE. This was a challenge as not only did I need to juggle school subjects, but this qualification and my Juvenile Arthritis.
During the study there was many practical parts involving intense exercise, but I always managed to complete and pass just in my own little Sarah's Way. If you have a child living with Juvenile Arthritis, you know what I'm talking about.
12 months later I was a qualified health and fitness specialist.
At age 18 years my first job was at a local gym and from there I began my own business. This was a fun and rewarding experience. I met many people with different goals out of life and this was always the best part. People would come to me with all walks of life. I ran many weekly exercise classes, even one in a Pub. Many days were spent in my gym creating personalised programs and making memories with everyone who walked through the door.
Earlier this year it became a little too much running a small business (that wasn't quite small anymore) and a large national organisation. After 6 years in the industry I focused more on Kids Arthritis Australia.
People who have read my other posts would know that each day I exercise with heavy weights, as it's the most effective, natural way to help the Juvenile Arthritis stiffness and pain to cease for the day.
Don't get me wrong some days it's just too much to exercise, but you'll still find me battling on lifting those weights to make the day that little bit easier.
I've always grown up surrounded by many different animals. From guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs to ducks and a pigeon who think they're chickens (that's a story for another time). The one thing that has always been apparent is how much a child's life with Juvenile Arthritis changes when animals are around.
From my own personal experiences and stories I've heard through beginning Kids Arthritis Australia, that animals as pets are very important to their condition.
We all know pets make us happier and have more active lives, but to a child with Arthritis this is what we really need.
When I was 7 years old Ebony, our beloved family pet dog passed away. We still had chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits, but without a dog my parents began to notice something different.
When Ebony was alive I would be more active. I'd take Ebony for short walks up and down the footpath of our house, sit on the floor with her and have a secret cuddle when the Arthritis pain was too much. Now without her this wasn't happening anymore, which meant less accidental active time. This lead to more Juvenile Arthritis joint flares, which meant more hospital visits and joint injections. Less motivation with more pain and no fluffy animal to cuddle.
We eventually found a dog who was trained and tame enough to join our family home. Her name, Ellie. Within the next few days there was a huge difference. There was more accidental active time, less inflammation joint activity and the overall feel of the house changed.
Jessie (little white puppy) joined our family after a close friend passed away from Cancer and she wanted her bundle of joy in caring hands. We now have two dogs which anyone who has two or more dogs would know the fun you have.
You are now thinking about your own home and how a dog may impact positively on your life. From my experiences without a dog life would be different. Not only in an Arthritis sense, but companionship for everyone in the home. A dog will be happy no matter how you're feeling and will always be pleased to see you come home after a day away.
If this has got you thinking about adding a new fluffy, cuddly member to your family. Check out the RSPCA website and see if your perfect match is there.
On the screen, I saw the scan of the back of my eye and what was showing were some tiny
