Cynthia S. - Diagnosed at age 21

Hi, my name is Cynthia. My diagnosis was a wild ride for me. It was the day after my 21st birthday when I had my first ever flare up (I didn’t know yet). I had numbness in my hands, I started to lose my hair, I could hardly walk, I couldn’t eat, and began losing my vision. On this day, I went to the hospital because I had gotten to the point where I was losing my vision. I spent 22 days in the hospital. 

Due to how rarity and extreme symptoms, they had to send my test results to the Mayo Clinic and could not start any proper treatment until I got the results. I missed Christmas, New years, and my mom’s birthday. On January 11th, I was officially diagnosed with lupus. 

In the last 3 years, I have fought to get better by following my doctors’ orders and infusions. I’ve gotten 80% of my vision back, I am walking again, I gained back my hair, and most of all my faith in myself. Today, I have recently graduated college and now am an Elementary School Teacher. My purpose was to stay and fight my obstacles to become stronger for those I love and myself. I hope this may inspire someone who may have just entered this unknown and scary world. You’re not alone.