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.
Flight of the Butterflies
Lupus Warrior Cassidy Garcia
Lupus was whispering for years before it crashed into my life like a train wreck. For about 7 years I experienced what seemed like random episodes of hives (especially in the sun), blood in my urine, and fevers. I brushed off joint pain as overtraining from weightlifting. Every year my symptoms got worse, but it was easy to explain each piece on its own.
Then came a viral illness that completely changed the trajectory of my life. I went from weightlifting 5-6 times a week to barely being able to put clothes in the washer without collapsing from shortness of breath and weakness.
I was hospitalized repeatedly for status asthmaticus (acute severe asthma) and kept being told it was allergies. But I’d never really had allergies or asthma. They said I needed to vacuum more. Wash my dogs more. Meanwhile, I had wheezing that didn’t respond to anything except steroids.
When I finally saw an allergist, she determined that nothing about my presentation looked like allergies. That’s when they found the lupus antibodies.
From there, it was specialist after specialist. My rheumatologist knew it was autoimmune, but not exactly what. I remember standing there holding my purse, tears in my eyes, telling him I just wanted to be able to play with my child again.
Meanwhile, I was doing nebulizers between patients, struggling to walk into rooms, struggling to speak in full sentences.I was in constant pain. Not able to sleep. My body felt like it was shutting down, piece by piece.
Eventually, it escalated to critical illness. My lungs became so inflamed and fragile that air started leaking into my chest. I ended up in critical care. That was the turning point for everybody. Lupus had declared itself.
I was then diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and told it was aggressive and needed immediate control. Which then lead to escalating immunosuppression every visit.
Treatment has given me pieces of my life back, but not without cost.
There is a version of me before lupus, and a version of me after. And I’m still learning how to live in the “after.”
I’m developing a new normal. A little better every month. Slowly getting pieces of my life back. Being able to play outside with my child more.
This is why awareness matters to me. Lupus isn’t “just” a rash, fatigue, or joint pain.
It’s a disabling, life-altering disease that doesn’t always look the way people expect.
I hope one day there’s a cure.
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
