This is the story of my journey with autoimmune illnesses. I was diagnosed with type one diabetes over 21 years ago, at the age of five. I adjusted fairly quickly and fairly easily to my new lifestyle, testing my blood sugar levels, moderating my diet and injecting myself with insulin …
Read More »Maryam’s Story (Lupus)
Hello, my name is Maryam. I am almost 16 years old. It all started when I was 13 years old. The rash was the first sign. It was creepy, but I didn’t pay much attention to it. But it grew bigger, and suddenly it was also on my face. I went to a clinic, …
Read More »Halle’s Story (Lupus, Anemia)
Like many, my story begins with a series of symptoms that could be linked to a handful of average ailments: fatigue, body aches, swelling, and the occasional purple hands and feet. At 12 years old, your first instinct isn’t that you may be suffering from what would become a lifelong …
Read More »Alice’s Story (Lupus)
Hi everyone, I’m Alice, and I am 16 years old. I was diagnosed at 13, halfway through my first year at high school. I had gone to the beach for a week prior to diagnosis and thought that my fatigue was due to the swimming and late nights with my …
Read More »Mae’s Story (Lupus)
I go by Mae. I was 11 in middle school. One day, I was doing a backstroke when suddenly the concrete step in the pool cut me. I love swimming and playing tennis, so getting a cut wasn’t a big deal in my thoughts. It was just a cut. I …
Read More »Nafz’s Story (Lupus)
Hello! I’m Nafz, 22 years old. I was diagnosed with Lupus when I was 14 years old, in my 2nd year of high school. I was able to see a lot of doctors, but they could not tell me what I had. One day, I was rushed to the hospital, due …
Read More »Keirstyn’s Story (Lupus)
My name is Keirstyn. I’m 18 years old, soon to be 19. I’m in college, have a wonderful job, boyfriend, family, and friends. But I feel I can’t enjoy life like an 18-year-old should. I have not been officially diagnosed with lupus, however my symptoms all point to it. When …
Read More »Rachel’s Story (Lupus)
Where do I start? Well first, I have not been officially diagnosed with lupus. My symptoms started when I was about 15 years old, and I am now a 27 year old mother and wife. At 15, my knees would start popping every time I moved. It was uncomfortable but …
Read More »Danielle’s Story (Lupus)
I am in the process of being diagnosed with Lupus. At the age of 18, I awoke one morning with almost complete loss of vision in my left eye. I went from having 20/20 vision to having barely any at all; this was not a gradual loss, this literally happened over …
Read More »Emily’s Story (Lupus)
My family, my friends, doctors, and even strangers, they have all seen my pain. I questioned the other day how many of them actually know what it’s like to live with Lupus. I thought about it and in all honesty, I don’t expect anyone to know what it’s like, I …
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