The Girl Who Cried Wolf — Kristi Page

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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.

Signing off, with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart

For me, writing has always been equal parts advocacy and therapy. I wanted to help others but I also needed a way to deal with the vortex of emotions swirling inside of me. Early on, I wrote regularly about all the struggle, pain, and heartache associated with…

How I Revisited the Definition of Being Sick After My Lupus Diagnosis

In the six months that followed my lupus diagnosis six years ago, only a few moments aren’t clouded by a haze. Everyone responds differently when their life is altered beyond repair, but I went into shock. If a genie had offered me a single wish, I would’ve asked…

Starting a Brand-new Chapter: Reviving ‘The Girl Who Cried Wolf’

In February 2021, I penned a farewell column for Lupus News Today that I wholeheartedly believed would be my last. Writing something that felt so final prompted many emotions. In between my first “hello” and what I thought was my last “adieu,” there were a hundred self-evolutions. The…

Ending an Era: Saying Goodbye to ‘The Girl Who Cried Wolf’

I’ve been procrastinating writing this column for a couple of days now. Partly because my heart doesn’t want to, and partly because I don’t know how to begin to say goodbye. As I pen my final farewell, I’m feeling emotional. But given how many nights I’ve spent teary-eyed, pouring…

We May Be Rare, but We Are Not Alone on Rare Disease Day

As we approach Rare Disease Day on Feb. 28, I reflect on the pros and cons of the word “rare.” Apart from my chronic illness, I love being unique. There’s something wonderful about having an uncommon skill or piece of knowledge. It’s partly the whimsy…

The Difficulty of Explaining Lupus Fatigue to Others

Learning to live with lupus fatigue for nearly five years has been one of my greatest challenges, both physically and mentally. Initially, it was like someone flipped a switch in the middle of the night. I woke up the next day and realized sleep hadn’t rejuvenated me or…

Lupus Makes Me Crave Control

A month ago, I quit my job as a barista in search of something different. I applied for nearly everything with only one qualifier: I didn’t want another job in the hospitality industry. I’m a big believer that you will never have to fight for what is “right” for you.

The Glory of Extraordinary Doctors

In the last four years, I have played patient to some medical professionals with no regard for me as someone who needed their care. Some were more interested in telling me what they knew instead of letting me express my worries. Some didn’t even treat me as a human being.

Because of Lupus, I Learned the Meaning of Love

I had never truly understood what it means to be loved until I was diagnosed with lupus. Don’t get me wrong — I had an amazing upbringing. As a child and teenager, I wanted for nothing. I couldn’t have asked for better parents…

The Journey to Happiness After My Lupus Diagnosis

This morning, I woke to spring sunshine streaming into my living room. After puttering around the house and watering my veggie garden, I settled in to have breakfast. And it was there, sitting at my kitchen bench, crunching on toast, that I noticed something: I feel happy. But not that…

Sometimes I Feel Like an Imposter in the Lupus Community

In May 2016, I landed in the hospital for a week. Doctors wanted to find out how I had managed to gain 26 pounds from fluid retention in just two weeks. For 12 hours, Sunday night doctors and nurses poked, prodded, and questioned me. Then their shift changed, and…

Sharing My Diagnosis on Social Media Changed My Life

It has been a long journey to get to where I am as a person, and I have experienced many transformations. I spent a significant period of my life as an introvert. I wanted to talk to people and had plenty to say,…

How Lupus Was the Catalyst to Authenticity in My Life

At one point or another, everyone realizes that pleasing the masses is impossible. With that realization comes freedom. The freedom to finally live the way you have always wanted. The freedom to stop caring about what anyone else might think of you. Most people reach the “I don’t…

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