Imagine being 10 years old
and discovering a way to control
the pain of pediatric arthritis.
I am not a doctor but a long time sufferer of Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was diagnosed at the age of two, I have had multiple joint replacement surgeries, years of rehabilitation, and I have lived with chronic pain my entire life.
Â
My parents spent endless mornings and nights, drawing hot baths, cold baths, giving me massages, hugs and anything else that they could think of to calm me.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
In times of the worst pain they noticed, I would go into a trance-like state. It wasn’t until I was in my teens, that I was able to explain that I used my mind to remove myself from the unbearable pain.
I developed a technique using the interventions of colour and deep breathing. With years of practice I could reach this state of calm in a few seconds. I had created my own mechanism for dealing with my chronic pain.
30 years later I am finally able to transfer this knowledge - by merging it with technology. Virtual Reality gives kids a sense of control over their own pain management, the freedom from physical limitation, and a respite from reality.
- Miranda McCarthy, Founder of Wavelength VR