Providing Answers, Support and Hope in Georgia
Thirty-One Faces of Hope: Betty McPherson
The lupus community includes people living with lupus, friends, family and supporters across Georgia. For Lupus Awareness Month, we would like to highlight some of our lupus heroes and champions.
Betty McPherson
My Lupus journey officially began in 1996 when I was first diagnosed. I say “officially” because I’m sure I had Lupus for several years before my diagnosis. I had various symptoms for several years, saw various specialists, and was prescribed medications for iron deficiency anemia and pain. It was four years, 2000, after my diagnosis that I experienced major Lupus complications.
In the Fall of 2000, Lupus affected my kidneys. It was one of the most frightening times in my life! I was the single parent of a 10 year old, and had no family living near. My nephrologist (Dr. James Tumlin) ran various tests and performed a kidney biopsy. The biopsy showed that I was Class III Lupus Nephritis. My treatment plan prescribed a number of medications including prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and six months of intravenous Cytoxan!
All of this was new to me and I was very concerned about my health and actually living long enough to raise my child. I was still working at the time; so I met with my HR Benefits Counselor to discuss disability retirement! Thanks to Dr. Tumlin’s aggressive treatment plan and God’s grace, I got better and was able to continue working until eligibility for full retirement. I was also able to continue raising my daughter and she went on to complete all of her schooling, including college graduation.
Today I am still living with Lupus, but am very hopeful for a bright future. There have been so many advances in the diagnosis and treatment for Lupus since I was diagnosed 25 years ago. The Lupus Foundation and other organizations have worked tirelessly to increase educational awareness, encourage modification of curricula for medical students, and advocate for more funding and research towards development of better treatments and eventually finding a cure.
The Lupus Foundation, particularly the Georgia Chapter has taught me how to speak up and advocate for myself and others! And it is working! There is now more research and funding for Lupus and newly diagnosed patients should feel hopeful about the future. I encourage all Lupus patients, especially those newly diagnosed, become involved in a support group. The LACES/Decatur group has been a lifesaver for me. It’s my second family (without the drama)!
- Betty McPherson