21 Today

by Collette McColgan

I say 21 today, but it’s more 21 today-ish. You see it was in October 1993 when I was diagnosed with systemic-onset JIA.

It seems a strange thing to celebrate, but when I turned 20 last year (in arthritis years, of course), it felt like such a significant event that I was a little disappointed when no one bought me a present. Now I’m 21 (in arthritis years, of course) I really feel that’s a much bigger deal and I definitely should get some kind of reward this time.

It’s not every day a girl turns 21, and though technically after this month (we’re not sure of the precise date of my diagnosis any more) I will have celebrated turning 21 twice – the first being my actual 21st birthday in 2011 – I don’t think that should lessen the significance of the occasion.

I’m not sure how I’m going to celebrate my 21st arthritis anniversary. For me, it’s not a weird thing to be happy about, because in some ways having arthritis has worked out pretty well for me.

It goes without saying that I have no idea what kind of person I would be if I  hadn’t been diagnosed with arthritis when I was three years old, but I hope the life-changing diagnosis of my formative years has changed my life for the better. I certainly don’t know what I would have to blog about if I didn’t have arthritis, and I really enjoy blogging.

I’m going to endeavour to treat myself for the rest of the month, because we all know that no one else is going to do it. Maybe I will soak my feet in hot water at least once a week. Or see if I can get myself a cheapish wax bath so I can treat myself at home. Or a back-scratcher. I think a back-scratcher would come in handy.

I hope I can start the arthritis anniversary off as a thing that should be celebrated every year. Think of all the useful presents JIA warriors worldwide could be conning out of their friends and family… Just imagine it.

Meet Collette and other friendly folk on Arthur’s Place Social, our Facebook Group

(Any opinions expressed in Collette’s blog are not necessarily shared by Arthur’s Place. Nothing that you read in Collette’s blog constitutes medical advice.)