Much like many 9 year old girls, Emily likes to do arts and crafts, but unlike most, she has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Emily’s condition makes her joints swell and leaves her in pain. In order to relieve the pain, she takes drugs that make her swell. It makes her look different, and if you know kids, looking different often leads to teasing.
When Emily gets teased though, she doesn’t hold it against the person who clearly doesn’t understand her condition; instead she asks to educate them. She asks to help them to be more understanding in the hopes that they might not tease someone else.
On good days, Emily makes bracelets to raise awareness for her condition. When Emily is having a bad day, and her hands are too sore to make her bracelets, her family and friends pitch in and help her out.
The bracelets, and the people that help, are Emm’s Circles Of Strength.
This past weekend, my daughters and I were lucky enough to be a part of Emm’s Circles Of Strength. We made bracelets. Just wire and beads, but so much more to Emily.
You see, on September 15th, Emily will become the Ambassador of Mac Kids (McMaster Children’s Hospital), and her bracelets will be carried in 3 Wal-Marts in Hamilton.
At 2:00 on the 15th, Emily will be at the Wal-Mart on Rymal Rd in Hamilton launching the sale of her bracelets, raising funds for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and teaching people to be more accepting.
If you can’t join Emily in Hamilton, join her on Facebook where you can follow her story and see how Emm’s Circles Of Strength changes her world.
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