Parenting a chronically ill child is a challenge.

When you become a parent, you experience a range of worries, hopes and fears for your child. If you discover your child has a chronic condition like juvenile arthritis, the fears may intensify - and you may feel you have to give up on many of your hopes for him or her. Juvenile arthritis is not a single disease; it’s a term that includes many autoimmune diseases that cause inflammatory conditions, and it is sometimes very serious. A diagnosis of juvenile arthritis also means having to see your child in pain on a regular basis, which is not something any parent relishes. Juvenile arthritis may be as difficult for you to endure as a parent as it is for your child to endure as a patient. Here are a few ways to ensure you and your child navigate the condition as smoothly as possible:

Find support

More than 300,000 children in the U.S. have juvenile arthritis, according to the American College of Rheumatology, so there are many other parents going through what you are experiencing. Like you, these parents are likely to be struggling with adjusting to their children's condition, and may have started from a place of knowing very little about juvenile arthritis. However, many of these parents have learned valuable information about the condition over the years, and can be a tremendous source of advice and support. They can also connect to you emotionally, whether you're depressed, afraid, angry or feeling any other way about your child's diagnosis and treatment. Being the parent of a seriously and chronically ill child can be very hard, and support from people in the same situation is beneficial.

Learn more about the condition

Once you learn your child has juvenile arthritis, it's important to get informed. Ask your child's doctor for the best resources available on the particular type of juvenile arthritis your child has. It may also be worthwhile for you to peruse some of the resources the Arthritis Foundation and similar organizations have for parents of children with juvenile arthritis. Getting a firm foundation in what the condition is and what you can expect could make things feel less overwhelming, and can also help you when it comes time to make treatment decisions or to find a specialist.

Relax with your child

In the midst of a very serious diagnosis, it can be easy to forget to take time to relax with your child and enjoy each other's company. Make sure you create time to do so, even if it has to be stolen between your respective obligations.

For more on arthritis:

Autoimmune Disease, Arthritis and Women
Do We Ever Really Grow Out of Our Growing Pains?
Organizations Dedicated to Treating Arthritis Worldwide