By JESSE GRAHAM
CHILDREN affected by arthritis will be able to easily tell their story, following a book launch in Marysville last month.
The Worst Pain in the World was released on 19 October at the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Victoria (A&OV) Camp Limber Up in Marysville, and tells the story of fictional girl Bella at her birthday party.
Bella lives with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), and the story explains that, while her friends have visible pains – such as a plaster on a broken arm – her pain is not visible, but is still very real.
The book was funded by A&OV and Pfizer, and author, Nicky Johnston, came up with the content after visiting the Marysville camp and talking to the children who attend and live with JIA.
“Almost immediately I knew which of my concept stories were right on the mark,” she said.
“I scribbled many notes at the camp, capturing key words, emotions and specific examples that I would use directly in my final story.”
A&OV CEO Linda Martin said the book would be useful for children living with JIA to tell their story to their friends, family members and teachers, who might not be aware of the condition.
“When people hear the word arthritis they automatically think it’s something that happens to old people,” Ms Martin said.
For one of the camp’s visitors, Tahlia, the book was a godsend.
Her mother, Kathryn, said that Tahlia travelled in a wheelchair due to her JIA, and that people often assumed she had a temporary injury, or something self-inflicted, such as a fall.
“She spends a lot of time explaining arthritis to others,” she said.
Kathryn said that having the book to show to friends and people at school would help others to understand the condition more.
“Having awareness among peers helps kids an awful lot,” she said.
Each of the children at the camp received a free copy of the book, and had their books signed by Nicky after the event.
For more information, visit www.arthritisvic.org.au.
