Sherrie H. - Diagnosed Age 45

I was diagnosed with lupus later in life. I have had symptoms since my 20's and had been diagnosed with many things. Upon my final diagnosis, my symptoms have progressively gotten worse. I have daily extreme fatigue, tingling feet and joint pain, and of course the hair loss and being cold all of the time. Lupus is now affecting my eyes and I have to make a conscious effort to form my words periodically. I've recently began getting lesions on other parts of my body, no longer just my hands and neck. I’ve learned to deal with some of the symptoms, but I think the change in needing to think to speak is the hardest for me. I'm in tech sales and my career is built around relationship building and I sometimes get sad when I'm hurting and I need to work get my words out. Words are huge part my life.

I am so very thankful for a loving and understanding family. They are very supportive and helpful and loving. I tear up when I think about it because I don't ever want to be a burden fighting against something so challenging to fight when there are so few answers. My hope is to be an advocate while I can, we have got to do more, find ways, find hope and then give it – it’s needed! I have lupus, it doesn't have me! What we need is people to talk and take action with advocacy and funding for research. However, more so action because "action is the reason why words mean nothing!"