14th Annual Flight of the Butterflies- Butterflies of Hope Lupus Warrior Stories is a powerful celebration of strength, survival, and spirit. Through the eyes and hearts of lupus warriors, we share stories that often go unseen. Stories of pain, resilience, and triumph! These butterflies may have been battered by the storm, but they continue to rise, wings open, ready to soar.
At Lupus In Color, we honor each journey as a flight of courage and beauty, reminding the world that even in the midst of lupus, warriors still fly.
Fight of the Butterflies
Lupus Warrior Joyce Bitton
I was diagnosed with lupus November 2011, it was during one of the hardest seasons of my life. At the time, I was walking through a divorce after 20 years of marriage. Life already felt heavy—and then lupus entered the picture.
Before my diagnosis, I was always on the go. I was a busy mom of two, running from baseball fields to school events, all while working full-time in clinical research. Slowing down was never part of my plan.
One of my biggest challenges has been the overwhelming fatigue and lethargy. It’s not just being tired—it’s a deep exhaustion that changes how you live. I had to learn something that didn’t come easy to me… how to say “no.”
I had to start listening to my body and choosing my “yeses” more carefully.
Through it all, my faith in God has carried me. When I didn’t have the strength, He did.
In 2012, I remarried, and my husband has been such a blessing in my journey. He understands me in a way that brings comfort—he can read me like a book and knows when I need to slow down. His support has helped me cope and find balance in a life that looks different than I once imagined.
To anyone newly diagnosed:
Learn your limitations—and give yourself permission to honor them. Don’t let stress overtake you over things that won’t matter tomorrow. Give yourself grace daily. And don’t let the world tell you how you should handle your journey. This is yours—and you are stronger than you think.
Lupus In Color Salutes you!
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 THIS FLIGHT ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND START THE BUTTERFLY JOURNEY SPREADING LUPUS AWARENESS!
#lupusincolor #flightofthebutterflies #lupuswarriors #butterfliesofhope
