Kiana Finds Strength in the Face of Adversity

By Bryan D. Vargo | Feb. 12, 2025

Kiana has never known life without the difficulties of arthritis. Diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) at age 3, Kiana, now 6, braves each challenge and treatment with strength, says her mom, Sheena.

While there is currently no cure for arthritis, this family knows there is much that can be done today to support both the search for a cure and to help improve the lives of the nearly 60 million people in the U.S. who live with arthritis. As a national honoree for the Arthritis Foundation’s 2025 Walk to Cure Arthritis, Kiana and her family are determined to continue their work for the cause.

“Sadly, we are not alone in this,” says Sheena. “Hundreds of thousands of other kids in the U.S. face similar struggles with autoimmune diseases. And like Kiana, they show immense courage every single day.”

Kiana’s story is also a reminder that autoimmune diseases like JIA rarely come alone. Kiana doesn’t just have JIA. She also has asthma, which — along with her immunosuppressive medications — make her immune system even more complicated to manage.

More than two years ago, Kiana began to receive injections of methotrexate. To date, she’s had more than 100 methotrexate injections. Last spring, Kiana also began biosimilar injections.

 “This brave warrior has become all too familiar with weekly injections,” says Sheena. “While it has become a little easier, it’s still something that weighs heavily on Kiana.”

Fatigue and flares are also frequent. “She faces these challenges with such strength, but that doesn’t mean it’s not tough,” says Sheena. “Every week she digs deep and finds the courage to keep going.”

Last year, Kiana’s pediatric rheumatologist also changed her liquid medications in the hope of reducing the number of flares she experiences. After weeks of phone calls and delays, she is finally getting the prescription from a specialty pharmacy, which is not covered by insurance.

“I wish I could say this was an unusual or isolated situation, but sadly this is the frustrating reality of living with chronic illness and the complex world of insurance and health care access,” says Sheena.

Committed to the Cause

But as Sheena will tell you, “Our fight isn’t just about managing her diseases. We are determined to continue pushing forward and advocating for change, to help others who are walking this difficult path, young and old.”

For the past few years, the family has been all in for the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk to Cure Arthritis — raising funds and awareness through Kiana’s Walk team, Kickin’ It With Keeks (Kiana also goes by “Keeks”). In 2023 the team set a $500 goal and raised $2,225, and with a $5,000 goal in 2024, they raised more than $23,000!

Kiana and her two sisters, Shaelyn (Shae) and Kinsley, have been personally involved through Change for Arthritis, one of their many fundraising efforts for Walk to Cure Arthritis — decorating Kids Arthritis Banks for loose change donations. So far, their banks have raised more than $1,000 for the 2025 Walk. All told this year, the team aims to raise $20,000 (and Kiana has a personal goal of $5,000).

The family also attended their local Jammin’ With JA event in 2022 and 2023. They brought enough people to fill several tables at the 2022 event, and in 2023, they brought an entire bus of friends to the event!

Through it all, the family remains grateful and their message to make a difference remains clear: “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us continue this journey,” says Sheena. “Whether you donate to the Arthritis Foundation, share words of encouragement or simply keep kids like Kiana in your thoughts, you’re making a difference. Your support means more than you know.”