Hello, my name is Destiny. I’m an angel baby, but it never really felt like it.

At the age of 9, I began showing signs of lupus. After spending time in the sun, my body would ache badly, something my family remembers me often complaining about. When I was 10, my mom noticed the butterfly-shaped rash on my face and took me to see a doctor. At first, they were hesitant to test me because they believed I was too young. My mom insisted, and after testing I was diagnosed with lupus and transferred to a children’s hospital with incredible rheumatologists.

My life changed overnight. I began intense treatment, including chemotherapy at just 10 years old. I lost my hair, had to stop playing volleyball, and missed many days of school. Because of the time away, I lost friendships and often felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. Wearing chemo caps and noticing the way people looked at me made me feel different in ways that were hard to understand at such a young age.

At 14, I experienced a life-threatening flare called pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage, which caused bleeding in my lungs. I was transferred again and intubated for five days. I barely survived. After that, I underwent another three years of chemotherapy and had to continue school from home.

When the world shut down in 2020, life felt strangely familiar to me. For the first time, many people experienced a small glimpse of the isolation and uncertainty I had been living with for years.

I finally returned to school in 2022 while still undergoing treatment. My hair was short, and although I felt somewhat normal again, I struggled socially and academically after being away for so long. I graduated in 2023, though not with my life fully planned out.

Now at 20, I am in a much better place with my health. I take medication, my hair is long and healthy again, and I carry only a few scars from my battles. Lupus is a lifelong disease with no cure, but I have hope that I will live a long and meaningful life. Even if my path looks different from others, I remain hopeful for new treatments, opportunities, and a bright future ahead. Through everything, I am still alive.