Some might be surprised to hear (including my past self if I had a time machine that could allow such an encounter) that living with lupus hasn’t been all that bad. When I first was diagnosed I remember feeling worried, anxious and scared for what my future might hold. I also found myself coming to grips with my mortality at a young age and asking that age-old question: “Why me?”.
After witnessing how the disease had affected my younger sister who had been diagnosed just 5 years before I was somewhat prepared for the challenge ahead and knew it would be possible to get under control, but of course, when it happens to you personally it’s a whole other story.
Luckily and thankfully my lupus stabilized pretty quickly with medication and care from the incredible doctors at the lupus clinic at the Montreal General Hospital. My symptoms and physical reaction to the disease was similar to my sister’s, and so my diagnosis was made much quicker and the medical intervention happened sooner for me than it did for her.
I would say it’s been more than 15 years since I’ve been stable, or what you could consider a “remission” from this autoimmune disease. I am so thankful to be able to continue to live a pretty happy, healthy life, all things considered, and to have the opportunity to give back to the hospital that has helped me stay that way all this time. Below I have copied and pasted the original facebook post from 2017, the first time I taught a lupus awareness fundraising class at Luna. I look forward to another special class this year. To find out more and to sign up you can check out the event here.
- Frances
Original Facebook post date: May 8, 2017
Alignment. My guru Davidji once said, "Those who believe in coincidences, aren't paying close enough attention."
A few weeks ago, at my latest lupus clinic appointment, I looked around at the anxious, nervous, scared, tired faces in the waiting room and thought: "It's really going to be ok everyone! I was once in the same position as you, and now I'm so happy, healthy and in remission!"
I spoke to my wonderfully generous teacher Jennifer, about how I wanted to do something to help, to make a difference... And she so graciously offered to have the studio donate to the cause.
#WorldLupusAwarenessDay happens to fall on a Wednesday, when I teach my regular Jivamukti class. For every student who attends the class, Luna Yoga will donate $10 to the Singer Family Lupus Foundation at the Montreal General Hospital.
And then today, a friend reached out to me, asking questions... She thinks she might have lupus. We spoke at long length and I reassured her: you'll make it through this. I did. And so have my sisters.
I post these pictures as proof of that. If you look closely at the dates, they are 3 consecutive years:
2001 - a year before I got diagnosed
2002 - the effects of the medication
2003 - already looking like my old self again