This is our nephew Henry. He is 5 years old. In October 2015 Henry spent 2 nail-biting weeks in hospital with a soaring temperature, horrible rash and an aching body. We thought leukaemia, muscular dystrophy, meningitis...

After more tests and bloods taken than anyone should have to experience (never mind a child) he was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Systemic Arthritis.

We’d never heard of it. There are just 12,000 children in the UK with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and the systemic version is even rarer. It's caused by the immune system becoming over active or poorly controlled and mistakenly sees the lining of their joints as ‘foreign’ to their body, like an infection.  As a result it starts to attack the lining which then causes inflammation and swelling of the lining and fluid in the joint.

Henry's condition has and is being managed with steroids, anti-inflammatories, physio and frequent hospital appointments as well further blood tests. He loves his doctor (Dr Bale is held in very high esteem) thankfully and he sees a future of practising medicine as a rugby playing nurse. True to his O'Connor genes he does not like to be messed with and is clear on what he and does not want...'no silly lady. don't cut my arm off silly lady'...to the nurse taking blood.

We don't know what the future looks like and are hopeful that he might grow out of it but for the moment Henry has sore joints at times and tires easily if jumping and running. 

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