My Lupus/Chronic Illness Story

We spend so much time trying to dodge the bullet, when our energies should really be spent on what happens when we get hit by the bullet. 
What happens when we lose that job, or when our relationship ends, or when we get diagnosed with a chronic illness?
I spent years taking care of my body...eating the right foods, exercising...but it rebelled, and I have been on the ride of my life ever since.
How do you get back up from events like these? How do we use those events to propel us forward?

There are several narratives that describe my life, but never thought that chronic illness would be one of the stories that would play out in mine. Sometimes I think back to my life before illness, and long for those days when I could run 3 miles without struggling to breathe, back to the days of my martial arts training, back to the days when I could run around and play with my children without having to pause constantly to take a breath.

This story will document a little of my life after lupus. Some images may be disturbing. I have made myself very vulnerable in this video, but I appreciate your comments at the end.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you.

May is Lupus Awareness Month.  Thank you for sharing, also, to help me raise awareness about this horrible disease.