Living with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, AKA Still’s Disease

While AK’s peers were shopping for prom dresses and applying to college, she spent senior year self-advocating and undergoing hospitalizations. AK had been diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at 12 years old after experiencing jaw and ankle pain. Subsequently, the flares became increasingly systemic with daily spiking fevers. AK shares how Read more…

Lupus Nephritis Inspired Marimee Toya Jules to Found the Village Tree Health Support Network

In her early 20s, Marimee (who goes by Toya) was diagnosed with lupus nephritis. This is a complication found in people with systemic lupus, in which lupus autoantibodies damage the kidneys, causing impaired function or even kidney failure. At first, Toya was horrified to discover she had this disease, being Read more…