Stand with Hannah
Meet this year's Face of Lupus, Hannah De Groot. Each year, the Lupus Foundation of Northern California recognizes the courage and strength of lupus warriors near and far, and honors a lupus patient as the Face of Lupus for that year. In this role, the Face of Lupus dedicates their time and story to helping raise awareness and building community with others living with lupus. Hannah's bravery and persistence has inspired all of us at the Foundation throughout the years and we are proud to welcome her as the 2021 Face of Lupus.
As a teenager, Hannah dove into life headfirst. She aspired to be a film director and was eager to grow up. When she first experienced mysterious joint pain and fatigue around age 15, she wondered why things that once felt easy suddenly seemed so hard. At age 19, Hannah developed a headache. It was so painful she had difficulty eating and sleeping and had to make the difficult decision to temporarily leave college. Determined to get better, she saw many doctors, some who dismissed her pain and others who believed her but were unable to provide answers. Hannah demanded more tests and still remembers receiving her lab results the day her life changed and the section that was marked red for “abnormal” with the note “indicates lupus” attached.
A week after diagnosis, Hannah and her family attended Lupus Foundation of Northern California’s New Patient Education class. She left the class feeling empowered and a lot less scared, equipped with the information and resources to not only understand how lupus was treated, but how to live with lupus & still have a full life.
As a teenager, Hannah dove into life headfirst. She aspired to be a film director and was eager to grow up. When she first experienced mysterious joint pain and fatigue around age 15, she wondered why things that once felt easy suddenly seemed so hard. At age 19, Hannah developed a headache. It was so painful she had difficulty eating and sleeping and had to make the difficult decision to temporarily leave college. Determined to get better, she saw many doctors, some who dismissed her pain and others who believed her but were unable to provide answers. Hannah demanded more tests and still remembers receiving her lab results the day her life changed and the section that was marked red for “abnormal” with the note “indicates lupus” attached.
A week after diagnosis, Hannah and her family attended Lupus Foundation of Northern California’s New Patient Education class. She left the class feeling empowered and a lot less scared, equipped with the information and resources to not only understand how lupus was treated, but how to live with lupus & still have a full life.
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Lupus Foundation of Northern California’s Living Well with Lupus program helped her through her good days as she returned to school and directed her first short films. They also helped her through difficult times, like when she was hospitalized for kidney involvement and underwent chemotherapy. Meeting other patients through the Lupus Foundation of Northern California and seeing that they could have lupus and still follow their dreams despite hardships made her feel as though she could, too.
Make a difference in the life of a lupus patient with your donation today. Your gift made by February 12, 2021 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000, to advance the mission of improving the lives of people living with lupus. Make your winter gift now to double your impact! |
Now, after seven years of severe lupus, I am in remission and completely pain-free. It's been a long road to get here, which is why I am so grateful for the Lupus Foundation of Northern California—an organization that has empowered me to not just endure lupus, but to live well with it, through all of its ups and downs. |
To me, living well means finding power in my own story, and letting go of shame. It means continuing to pursue what I love despite setbacks, and to be ambitious. It means being connected to others in my community who understand what I'm going through, and having the opportunity to give back. |
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Whether you are celebrating a milestone or remembering the warmth of a loved one who has passed, we would be honored to be part of celebrating the lives of those impacted by lupus in our communities. Please complete the "in honor of" form below so we may acknowledge the person appropriately. You may send in a donation with the form, or make a donation online above (the tribute information is in part of the online checkout process). When your donation is complete, the appropriate party will receive a notification of your gift (sans the amount).
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