I happened accross your website as I was searching for information on Juvenile Arthritis. My daughter, who is now almost 9, has JIA. Just like your daughter, she presented at 15 months, and limped for 6 months on a swollen knee. Overnight, with injection, that was almost cured, however at just before 3 years old she was affected by uveitis. She has chronic persistent uveitis, and luckily after many years of NSAIDS, methotrexate, and 3 years of infliximab infusions, she is stable. She continues with leflunomide daily, and infliximab infusions every 6 – 8 weeks, but she is active, healthy and otherwise unaffected. I am attaching a video that she was involved in, for a study in Canada called LEAP. She is the hockey player in the video, however it is a great production to encourage parents of children with JIA, that keeping their children active is a good thing, and also is hopeful that despite the challenges of JIA, these children with the research, and medications available to them today and going forward have a much better chance!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEcstaUcXX4

Good luck to you and Estella! I was touched by your video, as it was so familiar to me.
Lorna

My best piece of advice is to have her screened by an SLP. both my children didn’t talk much at 15 months (real words) actually, but everything else about their development was spot on/advanced. At that age, it is important to look at the WHOLE child and over all communication skills (vs just words) which is best done by an SLP. Good luck!

His poor speech therapist She was all business each visit and if he didn’t like the activity or her trying to make him talk he would just abandon it. I kept trying to tell her, “He’s just stubborn. Back off and let him come to you or let him lead what activity he wants to do.” She assumed I was wrong & that he might have SPD or another learning issue, it just had to be more than pure stubbornness after all! So she called in a behavioral specialist. But the behavorist confirmed what I’d suggested. So she finally admitted he’s just very bright & stubborn and changed the way she deals with him. And voila! He started interacting with her and participating!! I’ve referred her to your site by the way He’s not talking yet but some days I swear his babbling is right on the edge of actual words. Other days I dispair of his ever actually speaking. So we just keep plugging along Thanks!