Thank you for visiting my Walk for Lupus Now page!  I hope you will consider making a secure online donation of $5.00 or more to help me reach my goal of $500.00!  It’s easy to do – just click on the link to support me and complete the donation process.  I really appreciate your help!

It is estimated that 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus, an acute and chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease in which the immune system is unbalanced, causing inflammation and tissue damage to virtually every organ system in the body. November 2008 marked 50 years since a drug has been approved for the treatment of lupus. There is hope on the horizon, and with your help we can find better treatments and a cure. For more information about my life with Lupus, please read the information below.

In 2004 at the age of 19, I was diagnosed with Lupus.  Since then, I have experienced a myriad of complications including numerous hospital visits, lab test, and surgical procedures not to mention the crazy insurance and out of pocket expenses for health care. However, I am very thankful to God, my family, friends, and pastors for praying for me and supporting me through it all.

Initially, when I was diagnosed, my medical doctor told me that I would not be able to live a normal life.  He advised me not to continue with my undergraduate education (Clemson University) because it would be too stressful and he also told me that I should plan on being disabled in the years to come.  He also forewarned that if I were to have children it may cause my health to deteriorate to the point of no return.  With these thoughts in mind, I returned to Rock Hill, SC and lived with my parents for a year.  During that year I experienced so many different emotions, thoughts, and feelings.  There were some days when I thought my life was over, I was depressed, and I did not want to continue to live.  I thought to myself, how could something like this happen to me?  I was young, smart, morally sound, and a leader in my community, a great daughter, sister, and friend. What did I do that was so wrong to have this death sentence put on my life?

During the summer of 2004, I was in and out of the hospital 4 different times because I was experiencing pleurisy in my left lung and the medication nor the surgery seemed to help, it just kept coming back.  As a result, I could only take two steps before I was gasping for air.  I began to lose hope.  But just before all hope was lost, I began to read a book entitled "The Purpose Driven Life."  This book really provided me with a different perspective and outlook on life.  It helped me realize that my life was not about me fulfilling my desires but the fulfilling the divine will that God has set out for me.  It gave me motivation to continue to live and giving up was no longer an option.

In the fall of 2004, I enrolled at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC only one day after I was discharged from the hospital (I have not been admitted to the hospital since then).  By the end of that academic year, I had been invited to the Honor's College, was working a part-time job, and had been offered a position at my local gym to train as a personal fitness trainer but I declined.  In addition, I became a member of three different dance teams and was appointed to the Mayor's Committee on Human Relations.  I was determined to live.

I ended up leaving Winthrop and continuing my education at Clemson University where I was a resident assistant for three years, actively involved in many campus organizations, met my husband, and graduated Cum Laude.  I am currently a graduate student at the Medical University of South Carolina and I am working towards finding better treatments and preventions for Lupus. 

I ask that you please join me in my efforts to improve the life of those individuals with lupus and make a donation to support Walk for Lupus Now.  My personal goal is to raise $500.00.  I am asking that each person give at least $5.00 to support these efforts.  Because of you the quality of life for so many individuals living with Lupus will be improved.

Thanks and God Bless,

Joy Buie

Diagnosed in 2004- Six year survivor