We all like a fresh start. As a parent of a child who has arthritis, here are my resolutions for the new year.

1. I am going to go prepared to every appointment Niamh has and try not to get mad when they ask me to go over her history for the 100^th time
2. I am going to remain positive instead of bursting into tears in Dr Killeen’s office
3. I am going to stop making excuse’s for Niamh at camoige when she can’t run and encourage her to push herself
4. I am not going to read every article I see on alternative medicines and I am certainly not going to surf the net for extreme cases of arthritis and torture myself dreaming of what if…
5. I am going to swim more with Niamh
6. I am going to get more involved with my local branch of Arthritis Ireland

My daughter Niamh has made her own new year’s resolutions, as a child living with arthritis.

1. I am going to speak up at all my appointments as I am now 10 and I know what pain I am in
2. I am going to remain positive about my future and I do believe I can achieve anything
3. I am going to handle my injection every Friday with as much courage as I can and not stab mum with it
4. I am going to email my friends with arthritis as often as I can as I do find this very supportive
5. I am going to push myself in physio and swimming
6. I am going to keep a diary this year of my illness. I was rubbish at keeping it last year…

Arthritis Ireland has lots of tools, information, booklets and a helpline that can help you to stick with and achieve your new year resolutions. Whether it’s being more engaged with your doctor like Niamh,  taking more exercise or being proactive about managing your arthritis, there is something for everyone. www.arthritisireland.ie

Happy new year!

There is currently only one paediatric rheumatologist for the 1,000 children in Ireland living with arthritis, who also has a commitment to general paediatrics. As a result, children with arthritis are being forced to endure chronic pain, risk deformity and muscle wastage as they wait up to 13 months for an appointment with her. This is in sharp contrast to the international best practice recommendations that children with arthritis should be seen within 6 weeks of onset of symptoms.

Breffni Molloy speaks about how limited access to rheumatology services impact’s on his life…

My name is Breffni Molloy. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at the age of 13 during my first year in secondary school. As I live in Co. Galway, I was referred to an adult rheumatologist and she referred me to Dr. Killeen to make the final diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

At this stage, the arthritis had spread from my foot to my wrists, elbows, shoulders and knees. I was in a lot of pain and found it very difficult to do normal things like getting up in the morning, which could take up to an hour. I found it very painful to walk and spent nearly all the time in bed or lying on the couch during the day. I missed seeing my friends every day as I wasn’t well enough to go back to school for the rest of first year.

I have been on methotrexate for the last 2 and a half years, and have to have monthly blood tests done to make sure this drug doesn’t damage my live.

I had my last flare up before my junior cert this year and was started on steroids by my GP because I couldn’t get an appointment with Dr. Killeen before my exams. When I finally got to see her I had to return a few weeks later to the day ward in Crumlin to have my knees aspirated and injected with steroids. I find these three to four hour journeys to Dublin very tiring.

We desperately need more consultant paediatric rheumatologist in the country so that young people can be seen on time and receive the right treatment. For too long the voices of young people have been ignored, so I’m asking you please to listen to us now and do the right thing.

Click here to sign the petition for the appointment of a paediatric rheumatologist now! Your support will make a difference

I had to start going for naps during and after school – not very cool when you’re a teenager and all your friends are full of life. They were very supportive of me though and I am so grateful to them for getting me through that difficult year.

When I reached sixth year, the RA was so sore that I couldn’t tie my shoe laces, button my shirt or brush my hair. My little sister had to come in every morning to help me get dressed and help put up my hair. It was even sore to walk. I felt like I had been reverted back to a child – with my parents having to cut up my meals for me because I couldn’t use cutlery properly.

Obviously, I had to give up hockey. My mom encouraged me to coach instead, which was very beneficial to me in the long run. It was hard not to be on the team anymore though but I really enjoyed coaching.

There were a few key people during this time that helped me so much. I was going to my GP, Ciara, once a week to get injections – she was so good to me during all this and helped with the psychological side of things as well as the physical. I was very depressed. Between the actual physical pain and the impact it was having on my life, I felt like I was losing the will to live.

I managed to do my leaving cert – I was allowed to take breaks during the exam which was helpful because it was so sore to write at the time. I didn’t expect much but my parents encouraged me to just do it. I passed the exams, but not with very good results. Of course I was disappointed, but very proud that I had done them. I promised myself that when I got better I would go to college and get a degree.

At this stage, I was seeing the late Dr Michael Kelly in Blackrock Clinic. We had developed a good relationship and he was always so nice to me. We used to make eachother laugh – which is nice when you are getting cortisone injections into every joint in your body! He made me think that it was not such a depressing thing and that I could live a normal life – “do whatever you can do”. I’m sorry I never got to tell him just how much he influenced my life before he died.

It has been 12 years since I was diagnosed, which actually seems like a lot when you put it down on paper! Apart from the occasional flare up, I am in good health. I am still taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory tablets every day, as well as injecting Methotrexate and and anti-tnf every week. But it’s just the norm at this stage!

I am working a job I love, working indirectly with children; I am playing hockey and even completed a triathlon recently! I am studying a degree at night and hope someday to work as a clinical psychologist. I have never felt as good.

RA has taught me a lot – it’s taught me you are stronger than you think you are, and even if something is painful, you can get through it. It’s taught me that good friends stick around when you’re in good form and bad. But most of all, it’s taught me that you should always “do what you can do”.

For information on support services available for people affected by Juvenile Arthritis, see the Juvenile Arthritis section of our website: http://www.arthritisireland.ie/news/newsItem.php?id=79