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Lupus Stories
“Theres More to Lupus than you Know”
My Lupus Story: Lydia Wray
In April 2004, after experiencing extreme fatigue and severe joint pain, I was diagnosed with Lupus 20 weeks into my second pregnancy. As I was pregnant, at 26 weeks, I could no longer take any medication for the Lupus, which made for a very rough pregnancy. After my daughter was born in July of 2004, I developed a series of kidney infections that wouldn’t go away, prompting doctors to further look into my kidneys.
In January 2005, I went into the hospital for kidney biopsies and 24 hours later found out that the Lupus had attacked my kidneys and I had stage IV Lupus Nephritis, the worst news I could have imagined. I was given many different treatment options, however, considering my condition, my husband, Rod, and I chose the most aggressive, which would destroy my fertility. Future fertility wasn’t an issue for us as we are truly blessed with two beautiful children – Son Tanner and Daughter Audrey.
On Valentine’s Day 2005 I endured my first round of Chemotherapy, the most aggressive treatment for Lupus Nephritis. Because of my health, I had to make another difficult decision and that was to walk away from my career. Therefore, nine months after completing my Masters Degree in Business Administration, I chose to put a career in which I loved on hold. I needed to make sure I was healthy for my husband and children. The Chemotherapy treatments continued for eight long months.
Today, I am happy to report that my Lupus is under control and as of August 1st, there are no longer any signs of inflammation in my kidneys and they are back to functioning at 100%. I continue to stay home with my children, but hope that soon I will be able to slowly get back into my career. I battle fatigue every day and wish that I could take less than seven pills a day, but am leaning to live the disease and thank my FAMILY, FRIENDS AND GOD for their support and love.
I am healthier and stronger than I could have every imagined I’d be and to all that have Lupus, WE CAN BEAT IT!
~LYDIA~
In Memory of Shelley Heaton
Shelley was my sister-in-law and my friend. She was born on March 18, 1960, and she died on April 28, 2006. She lived for 27 years after she was first diagnosed with lupus. Her life was full of both hardship and victory, but when all is said and done those of us who knew Shelley will remember her as a woman who lived proudly and courageously.
Shelley was diagnosed with lupus when she was 19 years old after suffering from a time of severe joint pain and poor circulation in her hands. By the time she was 21, her kidneys had failed and she was on dialysis. She underwent some new procedures to combat lupus while she lived in Iowa City, Iowa, but still had her first kidney transplant in 1984, when she was 24 years old.
Shelley moved to Portland, Oregon, where her daughter, Kristin, was born in 1987. Because of complications from lupus, Kristin was born prematurely at 26 weeks and weighed just over 2 pounds. Again, in 1991, the transplanted kidney failed and Shelley was placed back on dialysis. This time she was able to have the peritoneal dialysis, making her life much simpler by allowing her to stay at home and administer her own treatments. In 1996, Shelley was blessed to receive another kidney for transplant and her health was returned to her. This second kidney failed last November in 2005. Shelley went back on dialysis but a series of health problems plagued her after that. She had a triple bypass in March of this year with mitral valve surgery at the same time. Shelley bounced back from this cardiac procedure with a positive attitude and renewed energy but in April there was an issue with the shunt used for her dialysis treatments and she also suffered from a bowel obstruction which ultimately led to her death on April 28th of this year.
Those of us who knew and loved Shelley were shocked by her sudden death but as we reflected on her life with lupus we were made painfully aware of the difficulties that she lived with on a daily basis. Through it all, sometimes to her detriment, she never complained or asked for assistance from any of her friends or family. Shelley held her head high and tried to handle as much as she could on her own. Many of Shelley´s acquaintances were not even aware that she lived with such a contrary health condition.
For Shelley, life with lupus meant continuing to laugh and play. She wanted to experience as much of life as she was able and she always seemed to enjoy the activities and trips she participated in and made a total effort to experience those events to the fullest. Those of us who were her friends wish that she would have let us help her more and share her burdens with her but we respect her independence and desire to handle things on her own. Shelley was determined to not "miss a beat" because of lupus, if at all possible, and she accomplished that goal.
I miss Shelley as do all of her family and friends. We miss her laughter and appreciation of the smallest absurdities in life. We continue to honor and respect her independent spirit and the courage she showed to us in the face of mighty life -issues. We miss her gift of taking life´s annoyances and putting them into their proper place. We respect her gift for handling a powerful foe like lupus and not letting it defeat her spirit.
It is most likely that Shelley was as surprised as we all were on April 28th to find herself on the other side of this life. However, while we were left with grief, Shelley is rejoicing in a new life that is free from all the issues she lived with for 27 years. We rejoice in that with her and celebrate her life.
Thanks, Shelley, for showing us how to live with our heads held high in the face of great challenges.
Respectfully,
Sheri Heaton Hays