Isabella

“Isabella is a very brave girl who has helped us face the diagnosis with great optimism... we want her story to help raise awareness about JIA.”

We love hearing from families about their fantastic children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). We know that everyone's story is different and yet every single story is important in helping to raise awareness of JIA. Whilst the majority of families that we are in contact with are based in the UK, we sometimes hear about children with JIA from all around the world. So it was a pleasure to hear from Isabella's family about their optimism and hope inspired by their amazing daughter.

Isabella is 6 years old, and lives in Costa Rica.

She has experienced symptoms of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) since she was 2 years old, starting with torticollis (causing twisting of the neck muscles, which makes the head droop). She was diagnosed with enthesitis-related JIA earlier this year, when she was 6, after a flare of her JIA that stopped her from being able to walk.

Isabella's family told us that it has been a long and difficult process, and despite having active arthritis, they are full of hope for the future. Isabella is currently on methotrexate injections and steroids for her JIA. She has good days and bad days.

Isabella's mum, Raquel, says "Isabella is a very brave girl who has helped us face the diagnosis with great optimism by educating those who are totally unaware of the disease. We want her story to help raise awareness about JIA."

If you are concerned that a child or young person may have JIA and would like to know more, please visit www.thinkjia.org

You can find out more about Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis here.