The Beginning!

Yeay! This is my first post for The Butterfly Chronicles and I am so excited to put it out into the world! As I mentioned in the intro for the blog, I have Lupus. I was diagnosed with it in 2010, but began getting sick in 2006. The last six years have been filled with illness and tears, but also with transformation. This is why I picked the butterfly as my symbol for this blog; not only is the purple butterfly the "mascot" for Lupus, but it is also the symbol of new beginnings and transformation.

 I am at another one of those crossroads with this disease now; a few weeks ago I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension as a result of the Lupus. I am at a point where I am trying to find the right Doctors so that I can get the right treatment, and have the best outcome. One thing that has been difficult for me recently as my diagnosis came in October (the month of breast cancer awareness) is the lack of resources for Lupus patients. My rant has been, "I'm on the same chemo regimin that cancer patients are on, yet I get none of the resources!". This most recent rant came after I saw a piece on the local news about an organization that provides makeovers and wigs for women going through chemo therapy for Cancer. My question to my friends and family was this; chemo is chemo, why cant I as a Lupus patient on chemo get the same benefits and resources as a woman who is on chemo for Cancer? I have the same concerns, and feelings. I definitely have the same insecurities about my looks! (prednisone anyone?!). When I said this on Facebook, a friend wrote me and said, "I had no clue that you had to take chemo for Lupus! You should start a blog to spread awareness about it!". So after thinking about it (obsessing about it really) for the last few weeks, I decided she was right. So here it is, the first official post of the Butterfly Chronicles! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it, and I look forward to hearing from you all!

Love,
Heidi