THE 12TH ANNUAL FLIGHT OF THE BUTTERFLIES
Flight of the Butterflies 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 is dedicated to sharing those Butterfly of Hope stories in May for lupus awareness month.
Butterfly Flight Heather Lindeman
My name is Heather Lindeman, I’m 47 years old. I began the diagnosis journey in 2021 and was officially diagnosed in July 2022 upon completion of a skin punch biopsy
The hardest part of having lupus is definitely having lost the ability to do things I once did, and not even that long ago. When I started having some of the issues, such as fatigue, joint pain, fevers etc, I had just recently started my own business and had to walk away from that. I also miss simple things like cleaning, sitting in a restaurant to eat dinner, traveling in short trips. It’s frustrating to say the least. I also get frustrated at the lack of understanding from even my own family members, like I have to justify or prove that I have this disease and am not looking for attention, excuses, or over exaggerating my illness.
Since being diagnosed I have learned to give myself a little bit grace, slow down, and do what I can when I can. I have also learned it’s okay to say “No” when I just can’t do something and not let it get to me when people get upset with it.
One piece of advice I would give newly diagnosed people is to take things as they come, one day at a time, one appointment at a time, sometimes one hour at a time, try not to let yourself get overwhelmed.
I want to be around for a while yet for my family. I still have things I want to do and see in this life and I just need to keep pushing forward for them and myself.
HEATHER, YOU ARE BRAVE, COURAGEOUS, AMAZING and STRONG TO SHARE YOUR STORY.
PLEASE SHARE Heather’s FLIGHT ON YOUR WALL AND START HER BUTTERFLY JOURNEY SPREADING LUPUS AWARENESS!
#lupusincolor #butterfliesofhope #flightofthebutterflies #Brave #Courageous #Strong #spreadinglupusawareness #onebutterflyatatime #flyonbutterfly
