Juvenile arthritis brings pain felt by entire family

CORNER BROOK — These days, he is a young boy who likes to show off his skills with a basketball and a skateboard. But there was a time when Adam Critch’s family wondered if he would even be walking at the age of 10.

When he was three years old, a bout of gastroenteritis triggered what would eventually be discovered to be juvenile arthritis. Joint pain and fevers prompted a visit to his doctor, and blood work revealed something was wrong. Countless tests to rule out things like cancer and lupus eventually led to the diagnosis.

The family found themselves in Halifax, N.S. seven or eight times, and three more trips to St. John’s within a 10-month span for medical visits. The drug and physical therapies were a must, and those first couple of years were a struggle — physically, emotionally and financially. Click here for full article.