The Girl Who Cried Wolf - A Column by Kristi Page

happiness, love, Extraordinary doctors “Kristi” is a surfer, barista, and university student studying for arts and science degrees in philosophy and mathematical modeling. Living on the picturesque Bellarine Peninsula on the southeast coast of Australia, she’s deeply passionate about salt water and amazing coffee — even though she’s not allowed to drink it. Above all else, she loves traveling the world! Diagnosed with stage IV lupus nephritis at 20, she’s determined to not be defined by her autoimmune condition. Using writing as a medium for self-expression, she hopes to share her life and journey to both raise awareness and support others in similar situations. A big believer in the concept of dialectics, she loves sharing and hearing unorthodox, sometimes controversial, views. She’s quirky by choice, inquisitive by nature, and smiling always!

What a Photo Can’t Tell You

Can you guess which one of us is sick? If I were to show you this picture (on the left) and ask you to pick out which one of us is sick, which one of us would you choose? Would you take a wild guess,…

Acknowledge, Embrace the Strength That Comes in Numbers

Since I began writing this column, I’ve had many people reach out to me. Sometimes it’s because an article deeply resonated or helped them express something for the first time. Occasionally readers will deliver a virtual hug because what I’ve described is too familiar and hits close to…

More Than Just a Number

Medicine can’t tell you much about lupus, but it loves to throw out facts. If you Google lupus right now, a range of statistics will pop up. According to Monash University, lupus affects 5 million people worldwide. It’s most predominate in the 15-44 year old age…

Dear Potential Partner, Thanks for Understanding

We haven’t been seeing each other very long, and honestly I’m still undecided as to whether you’re “Mr. Right,” “Mr. Right Now,” or something between. But regardless of the context we’re in, the prospect of this new relationship simultaneously excites me and scares me; while there’s so…

The Ebb and Flow of Lupus Fatigue

More and more I’m learning that with lupus, nothing has any kind of permanency. I have days free of fatigue, and I feel so good that I question whether I’m really chronically ill. But those days never last. Not long after, I find myself hit with another…

The Incredible Irony of My Life with Lupus

There was a period of time, not long after my diagnosis, when I felt as if I had truly lost everything. I felt overcome by my condition, as if it had sucked all the goodness out of every aspect of my life. Today, I find myself on…

Living with Lupus and The ‘Little Wins’

When it came to my first six months with lupus, it felt like I took so many losses. My diet, my energy, my face, my body shape, the list just kept growing. I felt like I never got to take anything back. I never got to have a…

A Tribute to Strong Women

I write this in a state of disbelief and heartbroken shock. Not long ago I found out about the passing of someone whose presence merely graced my life, yet left a lasting imprint. I’d love to dedicate this column not only to one wonderful and strong woman,…