SASKATOON, Sask. — The final touches are being made in preparation for the annual Team Cassie + Friends Saskatoon Run/Walk, which is dedicated to raising awareness of those who live with arthritis, particularly children. Charlotte Braun, along with her mom, Brittany, and family, will lead the walk in Victoria Park on Sept. 19.
Charlotte is a creative, outgoing young girl who enjoys going to her gymnastics class, where she can do a back walkover and continues to learn how to do back-to-back front handsprings. Off the mats, she often spends time with her friends dancing, jumping on the trampoline, making art or making up their own games and fun. She has grand plans to learn how to play the piano and violin, learn how to sing and hopes to become a famous artist someday.
Yet, there are times when Charlotte’s fun is brought to a complete halt due to her diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
Two years ago, Charlotte woke up unable to move, with one knee swollen to twice its normal size. This was the beginning of the Braun family’s journey to learning about juvenile arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
“At the beginning of her diagnosis, Charlotte suddenly wasn’t able to walk around without a lot of pain. She needed help moving, and that was terrifying,” Brittany recalls. She also remembers the emotional roller-coaster the family has been on throughout the many injections Charlotte has received, spending hours patiently waiting for the young girl to be ready for the ‘pinch.’
Charlotte’s treatment plan at first included a weekly methotrexate injection and a folic acid pill. Doctors still saw a lot of swelling and added an injection every 14 days. She also received two cortisone shots for her ankle and knee. Today, the swelling has decreased enough that the weekly injections have been switched to a pill, which has been more manageable for the Braun family. Charlotte also starts her day with morning exercises for her knees and ankles.
“Arthritis is a silent disease and misunderstood a lot of the time. Her knee is no longer twice the size, but there are still days when it looks normal and she’s complaining of pain. Charlotte’s pain has definitely improved and is manageable, so she can still do gymnastics and play with her friends most of the time, and we are happy for that,” said Brittany.
As Charlotte has navigated her diagnosis, Brittany understands what her daughter is experiencing, as she was 19 when she was diagnosed with arthritis.
“My diagnosis sped up the process of getting Charlotte’s diagnosis, so I think there is a genetic component.”
While some juvenile arthritis diagnoses can go into remission, some carry over into adulthood and require lifelong medication and therapy.
“Since Charlotte’s arthritis started so young, it could affect many stages of her life. The medications themselves have side effects, especially when taken for so long. My diagnosis has changed every aspect of my life, more than I ever thought it would,” added Brittany.
As the mother-daughter duo prepares for the annual walk/run, Charlotte hopes everyone takes a moment to understand juvenile arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
“I wish people knew that something will just start hurting randomly and that sometimes you have to take needles for it, and that maybe one day it can go away,” said the young gymnast. Charlotte is also excited to see her friends come out to support her and to see everyone have fun.
“Children in pain are so hard to see, especially when you feel like you can’t help them. I hope and pray that one day a medication or solution will help us lessen the amount of JIA and give these children a pain-free childhood they deserve. Until then, I will stand by her side, helping her when I can, and encouraging her to try new things, hard things, and to never lose hope,” said Brittany.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority supports approximately 350 children and their families across the province with a JIA diagnosis, adding to the national total of an estimated 25,000 Canadian children who are affected by the disease.
