Children and Arthritis, Inc.
To educate, encourage and empower families with children suffering with arthritis at an annual weekend retreat, Jambalaya Jubilee. Arthritis is painful, expensive and disruptive to families. Children participate in special needs accessible recreational activities; parents meet with physicians, have sessions with family therapists, and build support systems with other families.
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| Legal Name: | Children and Arthritis, Inc. |
| Service Sector: | Health |
| Address: |
P.O. Box 38328 Shreveport, LA 71133 |
Program:
Having arthritis as a child is always painful, sometimes crippling, and occasionally fatal. Medications range from $42,000 to $200,000/year. The divorce rate in families caring for a child with a chronic illness is 75%. Families come to camp often broken, distraught and overwhelmed. They leave armed with the latest medical information as a stronger family unit with a stronger support system. While parents are busy absorbing the latest information about their child's illness, the children experience a camp atmosphere, which they often may not be able to participate in otherwise due to their illness. All recreational activities are special needs accessible.
This is the only camp of its kind that addresses both the needs of the child and the impact on the family unit as a whole.
Impact:
In 2017, there were several families in attendance for their 10th year - a true testament to the success and benefits of camp.
• Parents meet in small groups to ask questions and learn about medical breakthroughs with top pediatric rheumatologists from around the country, dentists, orthopedic surgeons, ENTs, nephrologists, cardiologists, hand surgeons, ophthalmologists, nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists.
• Families have tough conversations and address underlying issues in sessions with family and marriage counselors. The child often feels scared and alone. Siblings, lacking attention, are resentful of the sick child. Marriages are strained by the physical, emotional and financial demands, and divorce occurs frequently.
• Children are excited to share experiences with peers who understand how they feel, both physically and mentally, so they don't feel so isolated. The children experience a camp atmosphere that they often are not able to participate in because of their diseases. All recreational activities are special needs accessible.
• Families meet and bond with other families enduring similar struggles. Recreational activities are designed to stimulate conversation between families. These relationships have proven to be an ongoing support system for both parents and children.
Camp Jambalaya Jubilee educates, encourages and empowers these families.
Having arthritis as a child is always painful, sometimes crippling, and occasionally fatal. Medications range from $42,000 to $200,000/year. The divorce rate in families caring for a child with a chronic illness is 75%. Families come to camp often broken, distraught and overwhelmed. They leave armed with the latest medical information as a stronger family unit with a stronger support system. While parents are busy absorbing the latest information about their child's illness, the children experience a camp atmosphere, which they often may not be able to participate in otherwise due to their illness. All recreational activities are special needs accessible.
This is the only camp of its kind that addresses both the needs of the child and the impact on the family unit as a whole.
Impact:
In 2017, there were several families in attendance for their 10th year - a true testament to the success and benefits of camp.
• Parents meet in small groups to ask questions and learn about medical breakthroughs with top pediatric rheumatologists from around the country, dentists, orthopedic surgeons, ENTs, nephrologists, cardiologists, hand surgeons, ophthalmologists, nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists.
• Families have tough conversations and address underlying issues in sessions with family and marriage counselors. The child often feels scared and alone. Siblings, lacking attention, are resentful of the sick child. Marriages are strained by the physical, emotional and financial demands, and divorce occurs frequently.
• Children are excited to share experiences with peers who understand how they feel, both physically and mentally, so they don't feel so isolated. The children experience a camp atmosphere that they often are not able to participate in because of their diseases. All recreational activities are special needs accessible.
• Families meet and bond with other families enduring similar struggles. Recreational activities are designed to stimulate conversation between families. These relationships have proven to be an ongoing support system for both parents and children.
Camp Jambalaya Jubilee educates, encourages and empowers these families.
To say that Jambalaya Jubilee is important doesn't begin to tell the story. Jambalaya Jubilee is the reason we are not only surviving but thriving in the wake of our arthritis reality. As a parent you shouldn't have to face injecting your child with medicines weekly, sit by and watch them receive infusions monthly, drive an hour twice a week for physical and occupational therapy, or advocate for your child's educational rights but that is what we face as parents to a child with arthritis. Jambalaya Jubilee hasn't taken this reality from us or sheltered us from these hardships but it has provided us with a support system to lift us up when life seems to be trying to hold us down. It has provided us with knowledge and information to improve our treatments and outcomes. And most importantly it has allowed us to do it with dreams and hope for Parker's future.
Sincerely, Nicole C.
Camp Jambalaya Jubilee was exactly what we needed. This was our first year attending and it will not be the last! Words cannot express how I feel. It was amazing getting to know other parents that understand. You all did a great job.
Love, LaSheila Y. & Jimirrial C.
All I can say is I never feel like we belong in this world. I'm a single mom that divorced when he was three because my husband at the time could not handle his diagnosis...Eight years into this diagnosis I realized I never really dealt with the emotional toll it has taken on my family. This weekend gave me the opportunity to tell my story and feel those needed emotions. I finally was in a place I could let go and receive comfort and support from people that understand. I finally was able to have the melt down I needed and people to support me. I shed so many tears this weekend for so many reasons. When the weekend was over I was thanking God that he chose me to parent a JA child. I found hope and love at Jambalaya Jubilee.
Sincerely, Brandy L.
Sincerely, Nicole C.
Camp Jambalaya Jubilee was exactly what we needed. This was our first year attending and it will not be the last! Words cannot express how I feel. It was amazing getting to know other parents that understand. You all did a great job.
Love, LaSheila Y. & Jimirrial C.
All I can say is I never feel like we belong in this world. I'm a single mom that divorced when he was three because my husband at the time could not handle his diagnosis...Eight years into this diagnosis I realized I never really dealt with the emotional toll it has taken on my family. This weekend gave me the opportunity to tell my story and feel those needed emotions. I finally was in a place I could let go and receive comfort and support from people that understand. I finally was able to have the melt down I needed and people to support me. I shed so many tears this weekend for so many reasons. When the weekend was over I was thanking God that he chose me to parent a JA child. I found hope and love at Jambalaya Jubilee.
Sincerely, Brandy L.
