Living with Juvenile Arthritis

"One of the best books for parents I have read on the topic. It provides practical guidance from a mother with experience and is written in an easy to understand style. The tools provided are practical and well described. I especially like the stories by parents and children themselves. Their view gives an authenticity to the book in a compelling way. There are many aspects of the book that are rarely found in other books aimed at parents of children with a chronic condition. For example, there is a section on how to be effective in searching the internet for some specific needed information for one's child. Of course I especially liked the chapter on pain management because it does not just talk about medications but rather the complementary therapies and home therapies that parents can use to help their child in pain. While this book is targeted for parents of children with arthritis, I enthusiastically urge parents of children with chronic pain from other causes as well as children with other chronic conditions to read the book. It will have value for all parents. The author, Kimberly Miller, is to be congratulated on an outstanding and extremely useful book!" --Lonnie Zeltzer, MD Director, Pediatric Pain and Comfort Care Program Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA "This is a must-read for parents of children just receiving a diagnosis of Juvenile Arthritis or any other autoimmune disease, such as Juvenile Myositis (JM). It's an essential guidebook for dealing with the social, family, school and medical aspects of a chronic illness. Kimberly Poston Miller provides solid advice on how to maximize your time with doctors, work with insurance companies, and advocate for your child. She focuses on how a diagnosis affects the entire family, and the importance of nurturing these relationships within the constraints of caring for a child with a chronic illness. Most importantly, when you read this book, you will feel like you have a new source of support and a new friend in your child's battle against JA or JM, or any disease. Kimberly provides a sense of warmth, compassion, hope and encouragement that will give you the strength necessary to begin or continue your journey as a successful caregiver." -Shari Slater Hume Co-founder Cure JM Foundation "Miller is the expert navigator for people going on the unplanned voyage of discovery for helping their own child with autoimmune diseases. She has provided a clear course particularly for how to start out and take control of the health challenge that was never anticipated. This book is required reading for every parent facing the challenge of juvenile arthritis. Her personal discoveries will help parents avoid unnecessary side roads. She uses her own and other parents experience to add depth to her recommendations. This book should be available on all hospital bookshelves for parents facing this challenge." -Paul M. Zeltzer MD Co-Director WholeChildLA Pain Program Clinical Professor in Neurosurgery David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA "Having a child diagnosed with a rheumatologic condition can be devastating to the entire family. Drawing from her own experience as the mother of two children with juvenile arthritis, Kim Miller takes fellow parents by the hand, illuminates the road ahead, and helps them put together a game plan to restore a sense normalcy. This book is long overdue--a vitally needed resource for any family fighting pediatric rheumatic disease, newly diagnosed and veteran alike." -- Joel Rothman and Laura Schultz, Founders, Juvenile Arthritis Association "Living with Juvenile Arthritis: A Parent's Guide helps families find their way through uncharted territory, with solid advice from families who have been there. From actual disease management to ancillary lifestyle changes and situational advice unique to childhood, Kimberly Poston Miller's book will not disappoint parents who are looking for guidance on managing more than the medical portion of their child's disease; it is a guide to healing the whole child and learning to live, and even thrive, under these difficult circumstances." -- Virginia T. Ladd, Founder and President, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association "...if you are living with this condition or know someone who is, pick this up -- you will not be disappointed!" -- Dad of Divas Reviews "In her first book Living with Juvenile Arthritis: A Parent's Guide, Kimberly offers hard-earned wisdom seasoned with hope and encouragement to parents and caregivers of children with pediatric rheumatic conditions everywhere." -Special Needs Book Review