Discover the inspiring journey of Michelle and Danielle, a mother-daughter duo battling lupus. From Michelle's initial diagnosis in 2009 to Danielle's courageous fight, join Mickie and Dee's Fighting Phanatics as they raise awareness and support for those affected by these conditions. 

My name is Michelle. 2009 was the first time I heard the word lupus—the day of my diagnosis. For the next three years, I didn’t want people to know. I felt broken, like something was wrong with me that I couldn’t control or fix. Then one day my brother and sister-in-law asked if I would go to dinner with them and talk to a waitress whom they met and shared that she was diagnosed with lupus. She was scared; we all have felt that. It was the moment I realized I needed to give this a voice, a face, and do something. In 2012, I joined the Lupus Walk, and with the help of my family of athletes and sports enthusiasts, my team’s name, Mickie’s Fighting Phanatics, was born. 

I wasn’t just walking for myself, but for every person who will hear those same words, “You have lupus.”

The first walk was so empowering. I saw many people with similar stories, and I learned I wasn’t alone. I was finally doing something to try to beat this! Shortly after the walk, in 2012, I had another reason to raise awareness and a reason to change my team’s name...

My name is Danielle, and I am Michelle’s daughter and the reason we are now Mickie and Dee’s Fighting Phanatics. At a very young age, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and experienced renal failure twice. In 2013, I received a diagnosis of lupus. It is hard to be diagnosed at such a young age, with everyone thinking, “Wow, you look so healthy!” and “You’re fine!” I had watched my mother courageously but painfully battle this for years.

I decided to be proactive and started a course of treatment immediately to get things under control. Through the bravery my mother showed me, I knew I was not alone. I had so many resources to help me through my journey. My family and children are the driving force that keeps me walking every year, and every year our team grows bigger and stronger! 

We are Mickie and Dee’s Fighting Phanatics, and we walk for YOU, for US, and for a CURE!