THE 10TH 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 Machelle Peters
I am Machelle Peters. My journey started on 18th November 2020 when I was hospitalised the first time due to High Blood pressure. I was discharged same day and hours later was rushed to hospital due to a seizure. A week later I was back in the hospital, rushed in an ambulance after passing out at Dischem Wellness clinic, for the same symptoms but this time I was treated for a stroke. By early December I was in hospital for the 3rd time and I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism.
Three 3 months later on 18 March 2021 the same thing happened. I was rushed from work to Trauma at N1 City Hospital. This time symptoms much worse, I couldn’t talk properly, neither could I walk. My left leg just didn’t want to cooperate. I was again treated for a stroke. After insisting on having more tests run and laying a formal complaint with Hospital management, the physician treating me finally took more action and ran more blood tests. When you know something is not right, it usually isn’t! I still couldn’t walk without falling against walls. I lost a ton of unexplained weight. I had swollen glands around my ears and neck. So swollen my Thyroid gland had tripled in size and I was pumped with an insane amount of steroids to get my body to prevent itself from self destruction.
I was eventually diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Fibromyalgia, Sjorgens Syndrome and Undifferentiated Autoimmune Disease. In one week of being in hospital at the end of March I had iron transfusions, a womb ablasion, bone scan, CAT scans, MRI scans, Xrays and multiple blood tests. 7 to 8 tubes of blood was drawn every day.
The bone scan confirmed that I had generative osteoporosis in my left shoulder and lower back, my joints in my legs were wearing thin due to the Autoimmune Diseases, which explained the excruciating plain I was in. It also confirmed Chronic Kidney Infection, which is being treated, after having two procedures done in April 2021 to help my kidney function.
Between March and May 2021 I was in admitted to hospital 5 times. On 13th of May after a series of new symptoms which included heart palpitations, cold extremisties, hair loss, skin rashes and more I was eventually diagnosed with Lupus. So the main Autoimmune disease was identified and no longer considered “undifferentiated” My Rheumatologist was really not the best. So my journey from the get go was frustrating. I wanted to know what I was dealing with and had no explanation from her wrt what to expect next. After countless attempts of working through the Rheumatologist Personal Assistant to get to speak to the specialist I lost all faith in her.
I decided to get a second opinion and everything was confirmed which kinda set my mind at ease. Not that it made it any acceptable or easy to comprehend. With medical bills in thousands of rands and a life altering couple of Autoimmune illnesses I felt I would never see the light. I felt lost, and I wanted my old self back along with my hair, my pride and dignity. Silly but true. I had to embrace massive change and still do every day. Also after my initial diagnosis I had fight to get my job back as I was seen as a fragile ticking time bomb. I had to prove my worth all over again and went monthd without a full salary.
Now months later. I realise that it is only the start of a life long journey. There is no cure for Lupus but it can be managed with treatment. Doesn’t mean I don’t have bad days and suffer from pain every day. But I embrace happy moments, hours and try to see the joy in every day.
I have a deeper appreciation for family and friendships. The few that matter. I will continue to speak up about Autoimmune Awareness because it can become lonely and frustrating. People don’t try to understand because they would never know how it feels to fill the shoes of someone living with Autoimmune Diseases, not 1 for me but 3. Everyone has different symptoms and battle every day to see the next. So be kind and get informed.
Life is to short to for me to feel sorry for myself and to live with regrets so here I am telling you. If I can fight my own body that’s trying to attack my organs, then you can fight whatever life throws your way.
Here’s to better days, light, love and rainbows…only through God’s grace!
~Machelle~
Lupus In Color is excited to present Machelle’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 Machelle. YOU ARE BRAVE, COURAGEOUS, AMAZING and STRONG!
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 Machelle Peter’s FLIGHT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND START HER BUTTERFLY JOURNEY SPREADING LUPUS AWARENESS!
#LupusInColor #ButterfliesofHope #FlightoftheButterflies #Brave #Courageous #Strong #SpreadLupusAwareness #LupusWarriorStories
