When Kelowna resident Danielle Downs was 11-years-old she loved playing soccer. But it was pursuing that passion that she encountered what was to be a life-long struggle.

After diving for a ball she broke a wrist, and it never healed. Then both of her wrists became sore and swollen. Both knees followed within a couple of weeks.

Downs said she was a 害羞草研究所渢ough kid害羞草研究所� and couldn害羞草研究所檛 understanding what was going on in her body.

害羞草研究所淭here was a lot going on, and my family had to travel quite a bit in order to see specialists,害羞草研究所� Downs said.

害羞草研究所淲hat was happening to my body was not logical, and I had many difficult emotions; yet wanted to keep them inside. I wanted to be OK for the people around me.害羞草研究所�

Being OK was impossible because she was soon to be diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

害羞草研究所淚 was taking multiple drugs simultaneously 害羞草研究所� had a standing order for blood tests, and relied heavily on Prednisone in order to move,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淢y mom recalls that some nights I was so sore that I had to sleep with a stool over my body and a blanket draped over the stool 害羞草研究所� I couldn害羞草研究所檛 bear the weight of the blanket on me, it was that painful.害羞草研究所�

Downs had to give up a lot of the comforts she once knew, but she was determined and didn害羞草研究所檛 want to give up playing sports.

She had to wear braces during any athletics, but found that she was still getting stiffer, so stopped wearing them at night. Fridays meant three injections of various medications - that was how she started every weekend.

害羞草研究所淚t was a struggle to not do too much, and there was stubbornness and resilience in me, yet the pain was still so loud,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚 wasn害羞草研究所檛 able to actually do the things that I wanted to, which was challenging for many reasons, including the fact that my family had always taught that you set your goals, and then you go do them. It couldn害羞草研究所檛 be simply mind over matter anymore. It felt like my body was calling the shots.害羞草研究所�

Her family and friends were all supportive, but even they couldn害羞草研究所檛 understand the highs and lows of the conditions or things like how she害羞草研究所檇 be OK one day, and in pain and fatigued the next.

Time marched on and Downs graduated high school and then went to Okanagan College in Salmon Arm.

There she met anther young women there who was also living with a chronic illness and their common issues bonded them.

害羞草研究所淲hen she died suddenly from a stroke, I was devastated,害羞草研究所� said Downs. 害羞草研究所淚t affected my life in a huge way. My boyfriend at the time lived in Edmonton, so I moved there to be with him, and to take a year off school, and work. In these late teen years, I started to listen less and less to what the doctors were telling me and I kept a lot inside. It was a very difficult time for me, but I wanted to keep it together for everyone.害羞草研究所�

A year and a half after that, Downs applied to UBC Okanagan, and moved to Kelowna.

害羞草研究所淚 refocused on valuing what my rheumatologist advised, and advocated for what my body needed,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所� And then something else revealed itself to me害羞草研究所� I realized that I didn害羞草研究所檛 trust myself.害羞草研究所�

Emotional and physical strain took its toll and Downs grades slipped and she became depressed, sleeping up to 18 hours a day. For a time she moved back in with family in Salmon Arm.

In time, however, she moved through her difficulties.

She was introduced to a meditation and healing arts studio, and began to cultivate a daily meditation practice. At first, meditation was a way to help control her pain.

害羞草研究所淚t did even more, however as it softened my entire approach to my body,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 learned that I didn害羞草研究所檛 have to identify with this 害羞草研究所榖roken thing害羞草研究所� and that it was possible not to judge my body for being the way it was.害羞草研究所�

Now 28, she is newly married, living and working in the Kelowna community, is active, and still practices meditation. It provided the calm in the storm, and has become a meaningful companion on Downs害羞草研究所檚 journey with arthritis.

She is walking in the Kelowna Walk to Fight Arthritis on June 4, and invites you to join her on this leg of her journey.

She, and many others, are walking for those who cannot, and to help raise funds for research to help improve the lives of people with arthritis.

Over 650,000 people in British Columbia live with arthritis, and it can affect anyone at any time, regardless of age, ethnicity or gender. And just like Danielle, kids get it too.

The Arthritis Society is holding the Walk to Fight Arthritis in six locations around the province on June 4, and everyone is welcome to participate in this family friendly community event. To find out more, or to donate to Danielle and her team, Movers and Shakers, please visit walktofightarthritis.ca