Arthritis Society

Imagine your child woke up one morning and complained of a sore leg, you noticed over the coming weeks that he/she appeared to be stiff each morning or after periods of immobility. Then all of a sudden the pain and stiffness disappeared only to return again at odd times. Each time the pain and stiffness lasting a little longer and becoming more painful.  What would you do for your child? Who would you turn to?

I am not sure how old my sister Paula was when she started having pain, all remember is how much it hurt her, how swollen her knee would be and hearing her cry at night when it got too painful.  I remember seeing the pain in her eyes after a visit to the doctor to have fluid removed from her knee.  I don’t think I ever heard the words Juvenile Arthritis used with my sister’s experience but I think based on the research I have done thus far she just may have been diagnosed with JRA.  I am so glad she never had to experience what Caitlin R had to experience, click the link below to read about Caitlin’s experience with JRA.

http://www.arthritistoday.org/conditions/juvenile-arthritis/treatment/caitlin-ryan-joint-replacement.php?ht

I joined Joints in Motion to raise funds for the Arthritis Society.  The Arthritis Society has provided me with the support I need for pain management and ways to function as normally as is possible, the Society’s mission is to search for the underlying causes and subsequent cures for arthritis, and to promote the best possible care and treatment for people with arthritis.  Please help me help the Arthritis Society find a cure for Canada’s #1 chronic illness and provide better programs and services for the nearly 4.5 million Canadians young and old battling arthritis.  You can donate by clicking the link below.

http://arthritis.akaraisin.com/pledge/Participant/Home.aspx?seid=2152&mid=9&pid=762930

As I previously posted having Rheumatoid Arthritis does not show on the outside, it is an invisible disease that attacks the joints and can be very painful and debilitating.  Many of the medications used to control this autoimmune disease suppress the bodies immune system. 

The suppression of the immune system means the body is susceptible to many of the germs and viruses that are floating around out there.  This week I caught one of those viruses and have been bedridden for the past three days.  Waking only to get a drink of water or to use the washroom.  Even though I have been on these autoimmune suppressants for years I have never gotten this ill, I count myself lucky.   I am on the road to recovery and look forward to getting back to work and fundraising for the my Joints in Motion Training Team commitment.

I have been posting photo’s to my Joints in Motion Auction Page.  The Auction will be held March 31, 2011.  Bidding begins at 6am and ends a midnight.  I am hoping this will be a good fundraiser.  I am also looking at hosting a Prize Bingo in the near future.  Local buisnesses have been very supportive in providing  donations for the auction and bingo.  Here is the link to my auction page.  Please click on the LIKE button and watch for more photo updates.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Claras-Joints-In-Motion-Auction-Page/372759099419475

I’ve just recieved my reminder that by March 1, 2012 I am supposed to have raised $2800!  Yikes, I  have raised $907.00 and am $1893.00 away from that goal!  I hope some of my donation letters are fruitful in the next few days!

I had to change the date of my pie sale due to work and other obligations.  I currently have 5 orders for this coming Friday.  Hopefully with any luck I will at least make $500 on the pie sale.

Thanks to the wonderful article in the Manitoullin Expositor I had an online donation submitted via my website at

http://arthritis.akaraisin.com/pledge/Participant/Home.aspx?seid=2152&mid=9&pid=762930

Another way to find my website is to go to the Arthritis Society Ontario Click on Joints in Motion Event at the top of the page. Click on support a participant, this can be found on the left side of the page. Click on select a region and choose Ontario from the drop down list.  Enter Clara in First Name. Corbiere in Name Icleland in Destination. Click Search. Click on my name and you are there!Click DONATE fill in the appropriate information and you are done!

Thank you for your support!

A wonderful article was printed in our local newspaper about my mission.  I was surprised at the amount of coverage this article brought to my journey.  That very day I recieved a call for 5 pie orders, a donation for  my auction and as well as a cash donation. Going to stuff envelopes today.  I’ve handed out 30 donation forms and will wait to hear back from them with a gentle reminder 7 days from now.  It is so exciting to see things starting to roll.

On the arthritis front, I am doing well.  Little swelling and very little pain and stiffness but I am suffering from the cold/flu that is going about in the community.  The medications I take for my arthritis lower my immune systems ability to fight off infections so whatever comes around out there I usually get.

Time to bake some pies!

Having arthritis is not fun!  I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) about 6 years ago.  Since then I have also been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.  Each of these diseases have had a significant impact on how I live my life.  I can no longer just jump out of bed and start my day.  On a good day it may take only 5 to 10 minutes to work out the stiffness in my hands and joints.  On a bad day it can take in excess of 30 minutes and I may have to ask my daughter to help me dress. (not a very good feeling at all)

Its funny, well no it isn’t but there are so many things that we as human beings take for granted.  Take for instance holding a coffee cup or pop can if your fingers are swollen and sore you will need to use two hands to hold that cup or can.  Round door knobs are my enemy as are jar lids.  My students wonder why I am always sore or why I am sick, its because I am taking medication that alters my immune system and makes me susceptible to other illnesses.

The Arthritis Society has been a big help in helping understand this disease and how I can make positive changes to my life.  Last year I registered for the Joints in Motion Dublin 1/2 Marathon.  I wasn’t able to make the fundraising deadline so I was able to transfrer my commitment.  I will tell you more about that in another post.  For now please take some time to read this article it will help you to understand RA and why its called one of the invisible diseases.

http://voices.yahoo.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-lupus-fibromyalgia-invisible-7492300.html