![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1000171159-727e-e1779702544565.jpg\")
\n\t\tDoctors thought it was just a normal injury (Picture: Rachel Pulfree-Blythe)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tDoctors thought it was just a normal injury (Picture: Rachel Pulfree-Blythe)<\/p>\n
At seven-years-old, Sophia Pulfree-Blythe is a ball of energy.<\/p>\n
When she\u2019s not practicing cartwheels, she\u2019s scaling the climbing frame at the park. But for her parents, Rachel and Ashley, their lively little girl is nothing short of a miracle.<\/p>\n
Sophia was just two when she was diagnosed with arthritis. While typically associated with older people, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) occurs when the body\u2019s immune system attacks its own healthy<\/a> cells and tissues.<\/p>\n Similar to the condition experienced in old age, symptoms include joint pain, fatigue and stiffness, which can often be misdiagnosed as growing pains.<\/p>\n \u2018I didn\u2019t know anything about juvenile arthritis. I didn\u2019t realise children could get it,\u2019 Rachel tells Metro. <\/p>\n \u2018The unknown is the scariest thing \u2014 the doctors don\u2019t always have the answers that you want to hear.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tJuvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)\t\t\t<\/p>\n JIA is an autoimmune and inflammatory condition where the body\u2019s immune system attacks its own healthy cells and tissues.\u00a0JIA can be both passed down genetically as well as develop environmentally.\u00a0 Bone and growth development can also be effected.<\/p>\n Whilst it has similarities to some types of arthritis diagnosed in older people, JIA is a unique condition beginning in childhood. Symptoms can begin from birth but may not always be obvious. <\/p>\n JIA is a condition that some children can grow out of, while for some it is lifelong, unfortunately there is no way of knowing beforehand.<\/p>\n Symptoms include:<\/p>\n Pain, stiffness and swelling in any joints \u2013 such as fingers, jaw, knees, back It was a freak accident in November 2021 that would lead to Sophia\u2019s diagnosis.<\/p>\n Rachel, 37, then four months pregnant with her second baby, took Sophia to an alpaca farm.<\/p>\n \u2018We went for a day trip to feed them,\u2019 explains Rachel. \u2018We were told not to touch their back ends because if you do they\u2019re likely to kick. <\/p>\n \u2018But because Sophia was so little, she brushed against one of them, and it kicked out, hitting her knee. She instantly started crying.\u2019<\/p>\n While at first, Rachel wasn\u2019t too worried, within a few days she noticed that Sophia\u2019s knee was swollen and hot to the touch. Rachel took her daughter to the GP, who said Sophia would be fine.<\/p>\n \u2018But during the weekend, it got worse, so I went to A&E,\u2019 says Rachel. \u2018They did an X-ray, but there were no broken bones.<\/p>\n \u2018I kept going to the doctor because it was getting worse and worse. They did all the checks, they even watched her run up and down the ward.<\/p>\n \u2018They discharged her, but it kept getting worse. She\u2019d learnt to walk by then, but I remember her crawling along the floor in the living room on her hands and tummy.<\/p>\n \u2018It was horrible\u2026I was pregnant and I felt guilty because I couldn\u2019t pick her up to help her.\u2019<\/p>\n Sophia was in so much pain that her dad, Ashley, 36, would have to carry her around.<\/p>\n It was when Sophia\u2019s grandmother noticed that her eyes become red and bloodshot, that Rachel knew something more needed to be done.<\/p>\n Finally, doctors agreed to do more tests and in January 2022 Rachel and Ashley were told their daughter had JIA, along with uveitis, an eye inflammation that often develops with the condition, that can cause blindness if left unchecked.<\/p>\n \t\t Rachel remembers crying upon hearing the news.<\/p>\n \u201cYour three-year-old has arthritis.\u201d That\u2019s not something you hear very often,\u2019 says Rachel. <\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019ll never know if the alpaca triggered the arthritis or if it was just coincidental.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019ll always remember them saying there was a risk of blindness. I even rang them in tears a few days later, panicked. I was so scared she was going to go blind.\u2019<\/p>\n Doctors explained that Sophia may experience a range of symptoms, including joint pain and swelling, stiffness, fatigue, eye inflammation and an impacted immune system due to the medication she\u2019d need to take (JIA requires immunosuppressants to stop the immune system from attacking the joints).<\/p>\n \t\t As she gets older, this may cause issues with growth, joint damage, and vision issues, specifically cataracts and glaucoma.<\/p>\n Following the diagnosis, Sophia had an operation where steroids were injected into her knees and feet to reduce inflammation and pain, meaning she could walk again.<\/p>\n \u2018I was there when they put her under anesthetic,\u2019 says Rachel. \u2018That was traumatic for me. It\u2019s something that you remember in your head for as long as you live.\u2019<\/p>\n Sophia had to take it slow post-operation, but thanks to physio and medication, was soon able to start taking part in sports again. She also wears trainers, rather than school shoes, as they\u2019re easier on her joints.<\/p>\n \u2018She\u2019s built up a really good friendship with her nurses and doctors,\u2019 adds Rachel.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018The nurses always give her stickers, which she loves, and at Christmas<\/a>, there\u2019s a party at the hospital which we all go to with games, crafting and raffles. One of the surgeons even dresses up as Santa and hands out gifts.\u2019<\/p>\n While it\u2019s possible that Sophia may grow out of JIA, which around 50% of children do,<\/a> Rachel says that she worries about the future.<\/p>\n Sophia\u2019s medication means she may have fertility struggles, and immunosuppressants increases the risk of preeclampsia, premature birth or delayed fetal development.<\/a><\/p>\n Hospital visits have taken its toll on Sophia too, who now struggles with anxiety<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018She worries a lot,\u2019 says Rachel. \u2018She\u2019ll ask me if the tap\u2019s off after she\u2019s been to the toilet, or if the front door\u2019s locked when we get in the car on the school<\/a> run.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018And she struggles at night time to sleep. She likes to be close to me.\u2019<\/p>\n Sophia now has a play therapist who she sees every week and, despite her challenges, she always tries to get involved.<\/p>\n \u2018In the past two years she\u2019s been first in her school race on Sports Day.She never gives up,\u2019 says Rachel.<\/p>\n \u2018She does swimming and tennis lessons, and she taught herself handstands and cartwheels. She\u2019s learned how to ride a bike and her little brother, Henry, follows her around.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Sophia even gives talks in her school each year to tell the other children about her condition.<\/p>\n Rachel said: \u2018She\u2019s amazing. When I was her age, I would never do that\u2019.<\/p>\n Now, the family are looking forward to a busy summer<\/a> together.<\/p>\n \u2018She loves playing on the beach,\u2019 says Rachel. \u2018She\u2019ll play there all day, paddling in the sea\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018She makes new friends easily. She\u2019s such a kind, loving girl.\u2019<\/p>\n Do you have a story to share?<\/p>\n Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1000171157-40f0-e1779702468733.jpg\")
\n\t\tSophia at the farm in 2021 (Picture: Rachel Pulfree-Blythe)<\/p>\n
\nHot to touch
\nStruggling to hold objects such as a pencil
\nStruggling to read and \u2018snowflake\u2019 vision
\nFatigue
\nFevers
\nApetite loss<\/p>\n![\"My](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_298498958-c925.jpg\")
\n\t\tSophia\u2019s family all help with fundraising and raising awareness (Picture: Rachel Pulfree-Blythe)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/8b6878a6-f87e-4720-ac8f-ba4a970e9d4c-b943-e1780305540434.jpg\")
\n\t\tSophia loves to play and be as active as possible (Picture: Rachel Pulfree-Blythe<\/p>\n![\"My](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_298498989-564f-e1779700640732.jpg\")
\n\t\tSophia now has a play therapist at school who she sees every week (Picture: Rachel Pulfree-Blythe)<\/p>\n![\"My](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_298498992-5357.jpg\")
\n\t\tSophia can now participate in sports and is even teaching herself how to do handstands (Picture: Rachel Pulfree-Blythe)<\/p>\n![\"My](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_298498986-d15e.jpg\")
\n\t\tFollowing the diagnosis, Sophia had steroids in her knees and was put under general anesthetic (Picture: Rachel Pulfree-Blythe)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: I\u2019m sick of parents bragging about how spoiled their kids are<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: It\u2019s 2026, and your dad\u2019s mate can still have sex with you the minute you turn 16<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: I tried a digital detox \u2013 it made me scared for my life<\/a><\/p>\n