Arthritis is a disease that often conjures images of the elderly, with many years of living already behind them.

A clever, energetic three-year-old girl with a stubborn streak is probably the furthest thing from anyone’s mind when they think about the disease, but for one Cochrane youngster arthritis is a reality.

At 20 months, Claire Moore began to limp. Three weeks later she couldn’t stand, walk or crawl.

After spending a week in the Alberta Children’s Hospital under going a battery of tests, Claire was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, affecting her left knee and left hip.

Arthritis is a condition where one or more joints are inflamed, lasting for at least six weeks, and no other causes can be found.

Claire Moore began to limp at 20 months, and shortly after she was unable to walk or even stand up due to her juvenile idiopathic arthritis. (Photo by Cori Lee Miller)

It affects about one in 1,000 children.

“We try to make it a part of her life rather than it just be her life,” explained Natalie Moore, Claire’s mom, adding while the disease is not easy it was actually a blessing in disguise, as doctors were “very close to thinking it was blood cancer.”

“When we heard arthritis we were just so relieved.”

Claire is often stiff in the mornings, and has painfully inflamed joints during a flare up, which usually happens once  per week.

“She says ‘I can’t walk because I hurt.’”

Her mom explained there are other effects of the disease, such as sight issues and Claire being very small for her age.

Many simply dismiss the disease in children as growing pains, something Moore said “is a little hurtful honestly.”

“I just want people to know it’s a real disease  and it’s effecting real children. It’s not just growing pains,” she said, adding the treatments, like low dose chemo, her daughter receives marks the seriousness of the condition.

“They don’t give children that for growing pains.”

This September, arthritis had spread to both the tiny girls ankles and her left knuckle.

Claire will turn three years old on Nov. 15, a day which Moore’s hopes will be very special for another reason.

She and Claire will walk one kilometre together at the annual Jingle Bell Run and Walk for arthritis.

Cheered on by family and friends, they hope to raise $1,500 to help fight the disease.

“It’s going to be a celebration of Claire basically.”

Moore said it’s important for people to donate because many children and adults count on programs run by the Arthritis Society.

“The program and services really improve and enrich the lives of kids and adults living with arthritis,” she said.

“There’s so little I can do to help —  this is one way I can.”

Luckily for Claire there’s hope on the horizon, as some kids simply grow out of the disease, but there’s no way of knowing when and if that will happen.

Either way, her mom said she can’t see arthritis keeping her daughter from living a full, happy life.

“She very happy and she is outgoing. It’s not slowing her down, it’s not stopping her from getting every moment out of life, even though she’s three.”

To donate visit Claire and Natalie’s official Jingle Bell Run and Walk page at http://arthritis.akaraisin.com/p/clairemoore.aspx.

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