Kristiana Page,  —

Kristiana Page is a passionate writer, jiujiteira, and lover of crunchy salt and vinegar chips. She lives in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. She was diagnosed with stage V lupus nephritis in 2016 at the age of 20. True to her personality, her writing is emotional, honest — sometimes blunt — and largely undeterred by what other people might think. For her, writing is equal parts therapy and the ultimate act of defiance against an invisible illness that thrived off her silence. She loves to use words to reduce stigma, shine a light on the realities of life with an invisible illness, and make the world feel a little smaller when it matters most.

Articles by Kristiana Page

Why I Refuse to Believe My Lupus is a ‘Lesson’

There are many things I believe wholeheartedly. I believe that if you send out good energy, that at the right time, it will come full circle and be repaid to you. I believe that in every moment I hold my life in my own hands, and although I’m…

Investing in the Future, and Hoping it Will Pay Off in Time

When you think of investment your mind goes straight to things of monetary value, like shares, stocks and property. You only invest what is deemed most valuable and for most people it probably is money. But for me it’s a little different, as the most valuable assets in…

A Letter of Thanks to My Friends

There are so many things to say and, though I’m certain this one column won’t completely suffice, I’ll do my best to turn my feelings into words. “Thank you” doesn’t quite cover it, but that’s where I’ll start. Because for many of you, it’s long overdue. I never…

Sick and Tired of a Life of Conscious Decisions

Being chronically ill is a lot of responsibility. I must make decisions consciously, as doing so may have repercussions, some of which may be serious. From going out with my friends, to eating or participating in sports, there isn’t a time I’m not solely responsible for my…

How Lupus Taught Me to Say ‘Yes!’ to Now

We live in a society where too often the assumption is that the future is guaranteed. But it’s not. I’ve spent too much of my life holding out for that “rainy day.” However, being diagnosed with lupus has taught me that it’s crucial to make it count…

Learning to Appreciate and be Grateful for What I Can Control

I’ve never been one for what is referred to by my family as “land sports.” Translation: I’m clumsy, uncoordinated and when solid ground is beneath me I’ll most likely either trip over my own feet, or run into something. I’ve always been that way. However, in the…