Fatema S. - Diagnosed Age 17

I was diagnosed with lupus and scleroderma almost 10 years ago. Life changed drastically - my right side of the body got effected the most. From retinal detachment in my eye, to curling up the skin on my hand to such an extent that I can hardly open it, to a bleeding knee for three years of my life, to almost losing my kidney, to walking on my toes most of time because I had stuff on the soles of my feet.

Lupus is a part of me now, I believe so…it has turned me into this strong resilient woman, who is standing to ADVOCATE. People have lost their life due to this illness because it’s underfunded and most of the world and doctors do not know about it.

Life turns real dark when you’re hit with a flare, so I am being the advocate for myself and for the entire lupus and autoimmune community that we need to be taken seriously, especially when visiting the ER and seeing a doctor.

We are surviving being in pain, we are survivors and life can keep knocking us down but we will keep standing back up, cause the sunrise will be a beautiful one for us. And it will shine upon us.