Ajah B. - Diagnosed at age 13

Hello, my name is Ajah— a lupus warrior, creative, wife, and founder of Wolves’N Butterflies, a lupus awareness brand born from my diagnosis at age 13.

It took about a month to get diagnosed after I fainted in the kitchen and was rushed to the hospital. I had a swollen calf, fatigue, a burning foot, and no appetite or motivation. That’s when they found out I had lupus, a blood clot in my lungs, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Lupus took pieces of my adolescence. I lost energy, freedom, and confidence. I dealt with butterfly rashes, endless med changes, and deep depression. Today, I’m stable but still face joint pain, brain fog, nausea, and days I can’t get out of bed. I’ve learned to give myself grace — through rest, journaling, and movement.

What keeps me going is my wife, who supports me through every breakdown and doctor’s appointment. Also, the people who connect with my brand — sharing their own lupus stories — inspire me not to give up.

I created Wolves’N Butterflies to represent the strength of the wolf and the fragility of the butterfly. My designs are armor for those living with invisible pain. They’re a statement: we’re still here — loud, beautiful, and strong.

I’m sharing my story to uplift other young, queer, creative warriors. Lupus isn’t pretty — it’s raw. But I’m still here. And what gives me hope is knowing my story makes someone else feel seen.

Thank you for giving warriors like me a platform. I’ll keep showing up strong like a wolf, and soft like a butterfly.