Lupus, and How I Give Pain A Purpose

How can I help create awesome memories in a home of your own?

There were years spent telling people the value of their home as an appraiser, and then years helping people find the American dream of owning their own homes. I had a blast turning buyers and sellers into friends, who I truly came to care about on their journey.

In my spare time I would blog about fashion and host private boutique parties to help small local owners get new customers, and sometimes help keep their doors open. Happy, hyper and a straight shooter have always been part of who I am. Years ago, one of my brokers started calling me ‘The Hurricane In Heels.’ The nickname just suited my personality, so it stuck.

It was difficult when lupus downgraded me from a hurricane to tropical storm status. It’s been said that there is a reason for everything. The pain, the fatigue, and uncertainty. I couldn’t really figure this one out, and there was no one to tell me what the deal was.

Helping others has been something I’ve done a lot over the years. I lined up to fight for causes that were not mine. I’ve never had breast cancer, but for five years I did something called “Pink with a Purpose.” It was my own campaign where I would wear pink and shout awareness and ask people to donate to Faces of Courage, an organization that holds free camps for those thriving and surviving, for the entire month of October.

I hosted private events to help local businesses keep their doors open. I would head down to homeless shelters at times of the year when no one thought of them. I became known as the “cookie lady” to the local firefighters because I would take them goodies year-round.

I often wonder if God thought “this girl needs her own cause because she seems to be looking for something to really support.” I was passionate about all that I was doing. I’m still passionate, but this time it’s truly my cause. I wish it wasn’t. I wish I could just be helping bring awareness to something that didn’t affect me. I had a lot more energy for those causes and those projects when I wasn’t directly affected.

There is a purpose in all that we do. In all the people we touch, we make a difference, whether we realize it or not. Raising awareness for a disease is a purpose, a cause, and a difference that I don’t want to make. I want no parts of it, and I wish the people I shout for had no parts in it either. It stinks. It hits good people. I have met people from all over the world, and from all walks of life that this disease is hurting. I wish I knew how to stop it, but until then, I suppose my purpose is bringing awareness to this ugly disease called lupus.

Note: Lupus News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Lupus News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to lupus.