I’m Walking to End Lupus. Will You Join Me?
Janya is a MD Candidate at Morehouse School of Medicine. She was diagnosed with lupus as a child. The symptoms started in 2012 with many doctor visits. Her mother Felicia & grandmother Angela advocated for her to get lab work done, and they found her white blood count was low. It took about 4-6 months to get a lupus diagnosis in addition to Rheumatoid Arthritis. She lived in Tifton, GA, and the closest pediatric rheumatologist was in Augusta, GA. Her and her family drove a couple of hours several times a week for appointments. She was started on different medications and a high dose of steroids. There was a lot of swelling and weight gain from the steroids, so she was bullied in school and ended up being homeschooled. She returned when her weight went back down and she was less fatigued.
Janya joined a lupus support group in Albany and helped start one in Tifton to spread awareness. Things got easier the more people understood what lupus was. Throughout her adolescence, she was still getting flareups, and her Pediatric Rheumatologist & study Nurse Heidi felt like she could get better treatment, so she went through a clinical trial for a new drug so it could be approved in pediatric patients. She did this for 8 years and stopped her last year of college. They noticed she was improving while taking this medication, so she was not receiving a placebo.
Her roommates, friends and providers were extremely helpful and supportive while she was in college and medical school. One of her roommates Kenyatta carried her from the bus stop to her room one time because she wasn’t able to walk to her place. Her bestfriend Tyshawn would stay with her several days at a time whenever she had to be admitted into the hospital since her family was in Tifton.
Imagine a day when doctors can say, “There is a cure for lupus.” Until that day though, there is work to be done. That’s why I’m taking action in the fight against lupus. Join me as I participate in Lupus Foundation of America’s Walk to End Lupus Now™ in Atlanta to raise critical funds for the estimated 1.5 million people living with lupus in the United States.
Will you make a donation to help me reach my personal fundraising goal and support the Foundation's efforts to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus? A generous contribution of $25 or $55 can make a definite impact. What’s more, if your employer offers a Matching Gift Program to employees, you may be able to double your contribution with just a little bit of paperwork. Trust me, it’s worth the effort! Every single dollar counts.
Did you know?
- Lupus is a mysterious and misunderstood autoimmune disease. It strikes without warning, affects each person differently, and has no known causes or cure.
- Lupus symptoms can be severe and highly unpredictable and can damage any organ or tissue, from the skin or joints to the heart or kidneys.
- While lupus can strike anyone at any time, 90% of people living with lupus are women. Women of color are at especially high risk.
- Lupus is hard to diagnose, but the Lupus Foundation of America is working to make life easier and more comfortable for the estimated 1.5 million people living with lupus in the United States.
Together, we can solve the cruel mystery of lupus. Thank you for your generosity!