My team
My Story…
When my daughter, Charlotte, was just two years old, we noticed her big toe was swollen. At first, we thought it was just a minor injury, but after a few days, she refused to walk on it without crying. Concerned, we took her to our local hospital, where doctors suspected a mild fracture but found nothing on the X-ray. I trusted my gut and knew there was more to the story. We went to the Children’s Hospital in London, ON, where the medical team didn’t stop searching until they had answers. After nearly a year of tests, referrals, and uncertainty, a doctor finally said the words that changed everything: “This looks like Juvenile Arthritis.”
We were shocked—and confused. My husband and I had never heard of JIA. Kids could get arthritis?! Since that first swollen toe, Charlotte has spent the last nine years trying over 10 different medications, undergoing multiple joint injections, wearing braces and supports, attending physiotherapy, and navigating the emotional toll of chronic pain. Today, she takes daily medications and requires Biologic infusions at the hospital every four weeks just to keep her pain somewhat under control—and even then, it’s not perfect.
Parenting a child with a complex medical condition is overwhelming. I’ve spent so many late nights searching for answers, feeling lost and alone. That’s when I found Cassie + Friends—a community of families who get it. I wasn’t alone anymore.
Through Cassie + Friends, I’ve been able to:
✅ Help fund resources like the Loan Cupboard at LHSC, providing critical supports to families navigating JIA and other rheumatic diseases.
✅ Access trusted, research-backed education to help friends and family better understand Charlotte’s condition.
✅ Connect Charlotte with a community and a mentor in the Youth Mentorship Program where she has fostered a friendship of mutual understanding, trust, laughter and no longer feels isolated in her journey.
Now, I have the privilege of working as the Family Engagement Coordinator for Cassie + Friends, ensuring that every family across Canada has access to the support, education, and connection that changed our lives.
Cassie + Friends isn’t just a charity to us.
They are our community.
They are our family.
And they are making a difference—for Charlotte and for every child affected by juvenile arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. 💙💚
