Providing Answers, Support and Hope in Georgia

Thirty-One Faces of Hope: Olania Washington

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 Olania Washington

The journey through Lupus has not been an easy one, but it has led me to who I am today. I realized the most important lesson throughout this entire journey was to learn how to put my livelihood first. Not to say that those around aren’t important, but I know now that it’s not easy to pour from a broken glass.

I developed lupus in high school and at the time I didn’t know how much it was going to change my life. When I got to college, the disease changed and became more intense. Thats when my kidneys began to fail. I did clinical studies, tried more medicine, but in the end, I was put on dialysis. While they were inserting my catheter into my chest, I began to seize. With high blood pressure caused by kidney failure, my vulnerability to more seizures grew exponentially. Essentially, my body was in overdrive. Because of that, I suffered a severe stroke in February 2020.

Through every battle, the circumstances gave me the opportunity to learn deeply about life. I learned to see the world through the lens of compassion, patience, and grace for others and eventually, for myself.

In January 2024, I received the gift of a kidney which has allowed my life to move forward. I now picture myself in an exciting and fulfilling future! This was a gift that I can only repay by living a life of purpose.

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.