Kim and Ryan Parsons woke one Sunday morning to hear their six-year-old daughter, Kendra, dragging herself through the hallway.

Kendra was on her way to watch cartoons, trying not to wake anyone as her arthritis pain forced her to crawl along the floor.

Three years later, memories like that one remind the Parsons family of the things that come with an arthritis diagnosis – the need for strength, a revealing test of character and an outreach for support.

“We didn’t associate arthritis with children, and none of it made sense to us,” Kim says. “We just immediately focused on the next step – from appointment to appointment, we made our way through. We can’t say enough good things about the support we received from Kendra’s doctors and The Arthritis Society.”

Three years later, the family recalls their daughter’s knee swollen the size of a cantaloupe, the arduous trip to the living room for cartoons and the need to find answers and belonging.

Arthritis affects about 3 in every 1,000 children in Canada, so there’s a great chance many parents don’t know children other than their own facing the same struggle. Through The Arthritis Society’s youth and family events, the Parsons family quickly realized they weren’t alone. Every conversation with fellow parents was an opportunity to discuss a shared experience.

“It didn’t even have to be about getting answers from other parents,” Kim says. “It was about feeling together. There was always someone to talk to – our children had seen the same doctors, taken the same medications. Sometimes, it just helps to tell your story to someone who’s been there, and hear theirs knowing you’ve been there, too.”

Now nine years old, Kendra’s arthritis is in remission. Her parents say living with a chronic illness at such an early age caused her maturity level to skyrocket. She never cried, instead learning to function within the limits of her condition.Now, she can enjoy ice skating, swimming, cross country running and Harry Potter like any other girl in school.

“Through all of this, we’ve seen that Kendra is so much stronger than we could’ve ever known,” Kim says. “She’s grown much older, much wiser. There’s a lot of maturity that comes with being so strong, and we’re proud of her.”

The wonderful news of her remission isn’t something the family takes for granted. Even on a recent trip to Disney World, preparations were made in case Kendra had a flare-up and required a wheelchair in the park, for example. Arthritis always remains present in the family’s mind. It’s why they are proud to remain involved with The Arthritis Society, and Kendra is the walk ambassador for the 2016 Walk to Fight Arthritis in Paradise, NL.

“We are so happy to be in remission, but we know there is a possibility it could return. We also know there are families out there who need our support, and we still need theirs, too. The diagnosis can leave you feeling lost. You can Google all the information you want, but what you really need is that perspective from other parents. You want to feel like you aren’t alone in the world.”