My journey with lupus began 31 years ago at just 17 years old, right before the start of my senior year of high school. What should have been one of the most exciting times of my life quickly became the fight of my life. At the time, I had no idea what lupus was or how deeply it would impact my future. I was diagnosed with SLE lupus nephritis and immediately lost about 25% of my kidney function. Over the years, lupus has attacked my body in ways I could have never imagined. It has affected my skin, causing painful wounds that sometimes required wound vacs and skin grafts to heal. I have spent months at a time under the care of home health nurses, managing treatments that exhausted my long-term disability and FMLA benefits. Lupus has also impacted my vision, forcing me to adjust how I see and navigate the world, including sensitivity to light and difficulty reading small print. There was a time when I could not walk due to the toll of the medications and the disease. After spending a month in the ICU, I developed severe muscle atrophy and had to relearn how to walk. Of all the things lupus has taken, one of the hardest losses has been my ability to have children.
Becoming a mother was a dream of mine, and that loss reshaped my life in a deeply personal way. But I made a decision: lupus would be a part of my story, not the end of it. Instead of allowing this disease to define or limit me, I chose to live with purpose. I chose to fight—not just for myself, but for others walking this same path. I share my story openly to encourage and uplift others living with lupus, reminding them that while the journey is hard, we are stronger than we know. I encourage others to embrace the good days, find joy in the moments we have, and take each battle one step at a time.
Today, I serve as a Lupus Advocate, Ambassador, and spokesperson, using my voice to raise awareness through media appearances, community events, and outreach. I have participated in walks, spoken on panels, and continue to educate others about the realities of living with lupus. Most recently, I stepped into a new level of service as a first-year facilitator of a lupus support group, creating a safe, supportive space for others to share, heal, and feel seen.
I also recently took a powerful step in my journey by joining Gamma Pi Rho Lupus Sorority, Incorporated. This decision was rooted not only in the strength of sisterhood but in my desire to go deeper into my purpose—serving, advocating, and uplifting others impacted by lupus on a broader scale.
My life with lupus has not been easy—but it has been meaningful. I am still here. I am still fighting. And I am committed to using my journey to bring hope, awareness, and change for others.
Lupus may be part of my story, but it will never define my ending.