THE 8TH ANNUAL FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLIES
Butterflies of Hope Warrior Stories
Flight of the Butterflies, Butterflies of Hope Warrior Stories is a lupus awareness campaign sharing stories of the brave lupus warriors. Many don’t understand lupus until they hear the walk of a warrior. Flight of the Butterflies, Butterflies of Hope Warrior Stories is dedicated to sharing those stories in May for lupus awareness month.
Flight of the Butterfly Brittany May
My name is Brittany May. Here is my story. I was diagnosed with Lupus on January 10, 2020, but that was not the beginning of my Lupus journey. My aunt was diagnosed with Lupus of the kidneys when she was 16. Since I was little, it was the monster under the bed, the boogeyman in the closet, the scary unknown that almost took her life multiple times. Unbeknownst to me, I was watching a blueprint of what not to do. Don’t get me wrong, she did the best she could do with what was available at the time, but she made many decisions that, at best caused new complications, and at worst almost took her life. I’ve dealt with joint pain since my early teen years, mouth sores, insomnia, random unknown maladies that had no reason, no source. Twice I’ve gone to the hospital for pain that was unexplained. Blood work came back negative, just was given pain meds and sent on my way.
Over the past two years I’ve noticed a rash around my nose. At first I ignored it, because it always went away, until it didn’t. My joint pain was consistently getting worse, especially in my hands and feet. In early 2019, I noticed that I was starting to develop thinning and bald patches on my head. I went to one dermatologist and she biopsied a section where I was thinning, and diagnosed me with CCC alopecia. She dismissed my face rash. I started to see a gastroenterologist later last year, who noticed the rash, and learned of MULTIPLE family members who have Lupus in one way or another and sent me to my primary care to test me while the rash was active. The day I got the blood work done was the day I scheduled my 1st rheumatologist appointment. My new rheumatologist read my tests results and said, “you’re high positive”, and the bottom dropped out of my stomach. My husband’s and my plans for getting pregnant with our second child, after having bariatric surgery to get healthy, and waiting almost 7 years to do so, seemed to have evaporated right before my eyes. I now have to wait (again).
Officially I’ve been diagnosed with discoid lupus on my face and scalp, and I’m still in testing to see where else I’m being affected. I’m experimentally being treated with multiple medications to find what works for me that I can take before and while pregnant. Meanwhile I’ve had joint inflammation and pain near constantly, my family worries about me (even the 7 year old), worried about COVID-19, and trying to navigate my new normal, and figure out what that even is. My mantra now is to be kind to myself, and to take it one day, one moment, one breath at a time. This is only the start of my journey, I have a long road ahead of me.
Lupus In Color is excited to present Brittany May’s story to the world. As a Lupus Warrior she is actively promoting lupus awareness and wearing the armor of strength in doing so.
Lupus In Color Salutes you Brittany May . YOU ARE BRAVE, COURAGEOUS, AMAZING and STRONG TO SHARE YOUR STORY.
YOUR BUTTERFLY WINGS ARE FLUTTERING, YOUR CHIN IS UP, YOUR ARMS ARE EXTENDED AND YOUR CHEST IS OUT! FLY ON BUTTERFLY! FLY ON!
PLEASE SHARE Brittany May’s FLIGHT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND START HER BUTTERFLY JOURNEY SPREADING LUPUS AWARENESS!
#LupusInColor #FlightoftheButterflies #ButterfliesofHope #LupusWarriorStories #brave #courageous #strong #LupusAwarenessMonth #SpreadLupusAwareness
