Welcome to Butterfly Corner! A special place where lupus patient's tell us a bit about themselves, in their own words! You can join us by sending in a story about yourself, your lupus journey or as a way to honor someone who has helped or is helping you on your journey!
Send your story to [email protected]. We will update quarterly.
Send your story to [email protected]. We will update quarterly.
My Superhero
Nonfiction by India Akua Mendonca
My superhero is not a fictional character in a comic book that walks through walls or has the
power to read minds; my superhero is non-fictional, real-life person that has impacted my life for
good. I am alive today because of my superhero! My rheumatologist, Dr. Neuwelt, is my
superhero. If I could change places with a superhero for a day, I would change places with Dr.
Neuwelt because he saved my life.
I have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). I was first diagnosed with this disease in 2010 by
my primary doctor at the time. I ignored my first diagnosis of SLE because I was not fully ready
to embrace my disease. In 2013, I met Dr. Neuwelt when my lupus became sick enough for me
to be hospitalized. When I was hospitalized, he helped me cope with the physical symptoms I
was experiencing due to the disease and helped me find a lupus treatment plan that was right for
me.
Dr. Neuwelt is dedicated to his patients, which is why I would gladly change places with him for
a day. Selflessness is an essential attribute for a superhero, and Dr. Neuwelt is selfless with his
patients and with me. When I have a flare-up, all I must do is call or message Dr. Neuwelt, and
he is there to help me with my pain. This is the kind of superhero that I can model myself after
and who I would change places with for a day.
Nonfiction by India Akua Mendonca
My superhero is not a fictional character in a comic book that walks through walls or has the
power to read minds; my superhero is non-fictional, real-life person that has impacted my life for
good. I am alive today because of my superhero! My rheumatologist, Dr. Neuwelt, is my
superhero. If I could change places with a superhero for a day, I would change places with Dr.
Neuwelt because he saved my life.
I have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). I was first diagnosed with this disease in 2010 by
my primary doctor at the time. I ignored my first diagnosis of SLE because I was not fully ready
to embrace my disease. In 2013, I met Dr. Neuwelt when my lupus became sick enough for me
to be hospitalized. When I was hospitalized, he helped me cope with the physical symptoms I
was experiencing due to the disease and helped me find a lupus treatment plan that was right for
me.
Dr. Neuwelt is dedicated to his patients, which is why I would gladly change places with him for
a day. Selflessness is an essential attribute for a superhero, and Dr. Neuwelt is selfless with his
patients and with me. When I have a flare-up, all I must do is call or message Dr. Neuwelt, and
he is there to help me with my pain. This is the kind of superhero that I can model myself after
and who I would change places with for a day.
If I Could Get One Do Over, It Would Be…
Nonfiction by India Akua Mendonca
If I could get one ‘do-over’ in my life, it would be to do-over my reaction to my primary doctor telling me that I had lupus back in 2010. I felt vulnerable, weakened, and overwhelmed on receiving this news from my doctor. My reaction was to go into denial. I did not want to believe that I had lupus and did not want to acknowledge my diagnosis and the consequences of my reality. Therefore, I did not take any of the medications prescribed to me by my primary doctor.
Three years passed since my lupus diagnosis, and I still was in denial. In those three years, I was neglecting my health: I was not seeing my primary doctor on a regular basis, and I never scheduled an appointment with a rheumatologist. Boy, did I suffer the consequences of my wrong decisions!
My lupus flare-ups, when left untreated, became a nightmare to deal with. My symptoms started to worsen after years of neglect. I would experience joint pain all over my body for long periods.
I would not be able to open and close my hands, and would have stiffness in my knees, pleurisy in my chest, pain in my shoulders… the list would go on and on. All the pain I endured in the three years of denying my illness could have been avoided if I had simply taken the prescribed medicine, listened to my primary doctor, and accepted my condition.
Nonfiction by India Akua Mendonca
If I could get one ‘do-over’ in my life, it would be to do-over my reaction to my primary doctor telling me that I had lupus back in 2010. I felt vulnerable, weakened, and overwhelmed on receiving this news from my doctor. My reaction was to go into denial. I did not want to believe that I had lupus and did not want to acknowledge my diagnosis and the consequences of my reality. Therefore, I did not take any of the medications prescribed to me by my primary doctor.
Three years passed since my lupus diagnosis, and I still was in denial. In those three years, I was neglecting my health: I was not seeing my primary doctor on a regular basis, and I never scheduled an appointment with a rheumatologist. Boy, did I suffer the consequences of my wrong decisions!
My lupus flare-ups, when left untreated, became a nightmare to deal with. My symptoms started to worsen after years of neglect. I would experience joint pain all over my body for long periods.
I would not be able to open and close my hands, and would have stiffness in my knees, pleurisy in my chest, pain in my shoulders… the list would go on and on. All the pain I endured in the three years of denying my illness could have been avoided if I had simply taken the prescribed medicine, listened to my primary doctor, and accepted my condition.
