Providing Answers, Support and Hope in Georgia

Thirty-One Faces of Hope: Lauren Green

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. 

Meet Lauren Green

Hi! My name is Lauren and I am a courageous and resilient Lupus Advocate for the community! As a child, I enjoyed bike riding, swimming, and being outside in nature. In 1993, at age 6, I was diagnosed with lupus (SLE), which included symptoms of joint pain, swollen fingers, leg rash, and a fever of 105. What did a 6-year-old know about lupus in 1993? Absolutely nothing at all! All I knew was that I had to swallow a distasteful liquid each day, known as Prednisone. The rheumatologist that I was seeing as a child, copied two black and white pages from an encyclopedia, then handed it to my parents to read as educational material. She was the only Pediatric Rheumatologist in Atlanta. There was limited information and resources about lupus back then. There were not any classes, online information or seminars to spread awareness. Resources and rheumatologist were not abundantly available. However, my rheumatologist was very experienced and knowledgeable.

Growing up with lupus, I did not feel saddened or deprived of my childhood, because I was extremely active in sports and extracurricular activities. Baseball games, swimming tournaments, and piano and violin recitals kept me busy and focused as a child, well into my teenage years. Despite having lupus at an early age, I had a very energetic childhood. However, I never focused too much on “having lupus.” I was too busy living life as a high school teenager. In addition, I have always kept a dedicated support system, which is also imperative.
 

At 16, my first flare up caused my blood pressure to skyrocket to 184/146. I stayed in ICU for 7 days. I recovered and stayed in remission for 8 years until the beast struck again in 2012. Lupus attacked my kidneys causing kidney failure, which led to the unthinkable- dialysis. After 9 extensive months of dialysis for 3 days a week for 3.5 hours and 12 months of chemotherapy to suppress my immune system, miraculously my kidneys regained their function! It was a long-drawn-out journey, but I continued to smile through it all. 

Several years after being diagnosed, I went on to nursing school to fulfill my dream as a registered nurse working on the transplant unit. Currently, I focus more on living a proactive lifestyle by healthy eating, creating recipes, exercising, traveling, and helping others. I partake in yoga, meditation, stretching and deep breathing. I enjoy being adventurous and doing things that I love.

I would like for others to know that they are a strong and capable individual that will do remarkable things in life. Continue to have faith and always be thankful for each day. To the younger children with lupus; your future is bright regardless of this cruel disease. Let your light shine bright. Do not allow lupus to put “limits” on your life and most importantly do not let lupus define who you are as a person and what you can accomplish. Lupus is a fraction of your life. It does not consume WHO you are! Do not hold yourself mentally!

Thank You to Our Generous Sponsor

Choosing to prioritize your kidney health might be uncomfortable, but the reality is that up to 30% of people who live with lupus nephritis may experience kidney failure, which can lead to dialysis or even a kidney transplant. Luckily, there are steps you can take now that may help, such as scheduling routine tests and asking your doctor about treatment options. Talk to your doctor to learn more about routine testing and treatment.

Learn more about their GET UNCOMFORTABLE campaign.