Cutting My Hair to raise funds for Kids With Arthritis

My name is Eti. I am 11 years old and I have Arthritis(JIA). I have been growing my hair for the past 3 years so I can fundraise for Kids With Arthritis NZ (KWANZ). My hair will also be donated to a wig maker.

When I was 4 years old, my mum noticed my right knee was swollen more than twice its normal size. After a couple of months of tests and hospital admissions, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). I was also diagnosed with Autism, White Matter changes in my brain and Ataxia.

Over the past 7 years I have had numerous hospital stays with my mum. My life with JIA involves many medications, blood tests and MRI scans. I have been unable to walk for weeks at a time and not able to go to school for whole terms, due to the pain of JIA. I can no longer play at the park, go bike riding and even go to school. Swimming is my favourite activity but sometimes I am not able to do it and sometimes I am not able to cope with others in class.

KWANZ has been incredibly supportive of me and my family. They have allowed me to feel 'normal' and like a 'kid' throughout my painful journey. Meeting other children who have arthritis, made me realise that there are others like myself, and this has boosted my confidence.

I will try to become Pediatrician Rheumatologist so I can help kids like me. However, KWANZ has encouraged me to be the absolute best I can be. I want to support them so they can go on helping other children around NZ who battle this painful disease