Velika H. - Diagnosed Age 32

I went to the ER for a month for excruciating pain and feeling exhausted to the point of feeling like I was getting closer to death everyday, but was sent home. One day, I went to the ER unable to walk and was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in my groin. I was hospitalized and put in the ICU. I was given medication and was sent home. A couple of weeks later I developed another clot while still on the medication. And, a few weeks later I developed another. After a month of testing I had my diagnosis, Lupus Anticoagulant Disorder.

Ten years later, I still have body aches, sometimes my skin hurts and my legs and feet swell. Sometimes I can't move my legs and need someone to help me turn over, uncross my legs, or move my legs so that I can stand up and help me start walking. Sometimes I have to have someone carry me because my legs hurt too bad or I can't even move them.

Lupus Anticoagulant Disorder has had a big impact on my life. I love to get up and go whenever I want. That's not my life anymore. I have to see how my body is going to feel and react every minute. If I go walking around and shopping one day, the I have to spend the next day resting.

Every day I take medicine that I'll take the rest of my life. I have to go get my blood checked which is sometimes once a week. The worst of all was losing a child.

My faith in God and knowing that he is a sustainer, family, friends, and doctors/nurses who care about me and my wellbeing gives me hope. I want people to know that in spite of challenges I face, I still live a happy life. I have days when I'm down and sad but they don't last forever, these feelings are normal. It's time to smile and walk with our heads high because we're strong, we're fighters.

My daddy used to say, "Can't died when you cried,” meaning when I was born, the first time I cried, the word “can’t” disappeared. I can do anything. I can overcome this. My diagnosis may never change, but I will not let it defeat me.