By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

Thirteen-year-old Jassandra Timken prefers reading and writing. But lately, she's opted for an easel and paintbrush.

The Hays girl, who was diagnosed with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis at age 2, was selected as one of 11 children to represent Kansas at an arthritis awareness event this weekend.

Jassandra has been working with local artist Kris Kuksi to create a painting and sculpture for auction at the Art for Arthritis event, scheduled for Saturday at Wichita's Marriott Hotel.

"It's exciting," Jassandra said of her art opportunity.

The family decided to participate in the hopes of bringing more awareness to the disease, which differs from the type of arthritis found in elderly populations, said her father, Darren Timken.

"Not a lot of people know about it, and a lot of people confuse it with their grandmother's type of arthritis," he said. "It's an entirely different type of disease. ... A lot of children have it that probably haven't been diagnosed with it."

There are more than 120 types of the disease, according to a press release from the Arthritis Foundation, which is sponsoring Saturday's event.

The illness can be a "hidden" disease, meaning not all who suffer from it show outward physical symptoms.

Jassandra's symptoms include swollen joints and fatigue. Her bones break easily, and arthritis in her spinal column and neck have resulted in somewhat limited mobility, her mother, Shandell Timken said.

The illness also affects her immune system, meaning ailments such as influenza last much longer than a typical case, she said.

She walks most of the time, but uses a wheelchair on particularly rough days. Due to a lack of medical options, she has been taking the same drugs prescribed to adults suffering from arthritic pain, Shandell Timken said.

Jassandra, who attends classes online, receives a weekly injection of arthritis medicine. Her body has adjusted to the chemicals, but initial doses caused hair loss and stomach illness, Shandell Timken said.

"It has damaged part of her kidneys, and she's had a hard time of it," she said. "When you're using adult medications on children, it's just not a good issue."

Kuksi, who has been working with Jassandra on her projects for several weeks, said the issue of juvenile arthritis hits close to home.

"I felt like it was a good cause, and I was really happy to contribute some time to it," he said. "I actually have a cousin who was born with rheumatoid arthritis, so I think I had a particular interest in doing something like this."

While Jassandra said she has enjoyed the projects, she's unlikely to become an artist when she grows up. She wants to be a doctor.

"I want to help people," she said.