Stand with Shauntay
Shuantay was diagnosed with systemic lupus at age 19 in 1996. Since then, she has had many challenges, but has done fairly well living with complications such as joint pain and kidney involvement (lupus nephritis). All who know Shauntay know that she always says, “I have lupus, lupus does not have me.” Although lupus has caused many detours in her life, she refused to let it end her journey of living life to its full potential. She earned a science degree with a community health focus at Sacramento State after her lupus diagnosis prompted her interest in public health. Shauntay subsequently earned a graduate public health degree in South Africa and studied Spanish in Costa Rica, all while serving as an Ambassadorial Scholar of the Rotary Foundation. She is now the Program Director of a cancer prevention and control program for the state of California.
"When I discovered LFNC, I was grateful to have found an organization that offered support, guidance and an extremely helpful staff that truly cares about us lupus patients."
Lupus changed how and when she would have children.
Because of her lupus nephritis, Shauntay was unable to have children on her own. After a journey that included going through a process to get pregnant herself and a surrogacy attempt, she and her husband explored adoption. After working with an organization that specializes in placing foster children with families that want to adopt them, she was blessed with a 7-month old son. A year and half later, his brother was unexpectedly welcomed into their new family at 5 days old. Shauntay has now adopted the brothers who are now 3 1/2 and 6 years old. Although this isn’t the way she imagined having children, she knows it was meant to be and couldn’t imagine not being a mother to her wonderful sons.
Shauntay has been the Leader of the LFNC Sacramento Support Group for over 15 years. This is one of the only lupus support groups in the greater Sacramento area. With the assistance of LFNC and two long-time friends and co-facilitators, she is grateful to continuously provide a platform for lupus patients and their caregivers, and will continue to do so as long as she is able. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and two sons.
“LFNC is an extremely valuable and important resource for lupus patients, their loved ones and caregivers. They are my number one referral for anyone needing help or information related to lupus.”
Patients like Shauntay are why the Lupus Foundation of Northern California can help so many lupus patients in Northern California and beyond.
"When I discovered LFNC, I was grateful to have found an organization that offered support, guidance and an extremely helpful staff that truly cares about us lupus patients."
Lupus changed how and when she would have children.
Because of her lupus nephritis, Shauntay was unable to have children on her own. After a journey that included going through a process to get pregnant herself and a surrogacy attempt, she and her husband explored adoption. After working with an organization that specializes in placing foster children with families that want to adopt them, she was blessed with a 7-month old son. A year and half later, his brother was unexpectedly welcomed into their new family at 5 days old. Shauntay has now adopted the brothers who are now 3 1/2 and 6 years old. Although this isn’t the way she imagined having children, she knows it was meant to be and couldn’t imagine not being a mother to her wonderful sons.
Shauntay has been the Leader of the LFNC Sacramento Support Group for over 15 years. This is one of the only lupus support groups in the greater Sacramento area. With the assistance of LFNC and two long-time friends and co-facilitators, she is grateful to continuously provide a platform for lupus patients and their caregivers, and will continue to do so as long as she is able. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and two sons.
“LFNC is an extremely valuable and important resource for lupus patients, their loved ones and caregivers. They are my number one referral for anyone needing help or information related to lupus.”
Patients like Shauntay are why the Lupus Foundation of Northern California can help so many lupus patients in Northern California and beyond.
Each of the above programs are a direct result of your generous contributions. Your donation will help lupus patients live a fulfilling life and enables us to continue to serve all those impacted by lupus until a cure is found.
Thank you to everyone who donated to us on #GivingTuesday! We raised $2932 in one day! This will help us continue to offer free support and education programs to lupus patients in 2023. If you weren't able to donate, it's not too late! Donate by December 31st and receive your 2022 tax deduction! We are so grateful to all of you for your constant support!
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with Tax ID 94-2469741, and contributions to the Lupus Foundation of Northern California are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with Tax ID 94-2469741, and contributions to the Lupus Foundation of Northern California are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
