Meet MELISSA
Melissa Osoria, diagnosed at 25
I used to be a very active person, but then I started experiencing pain in my joints and my jaw. In 2015, my symptoms started to progress very quickly, and before I knew it, I needed assistance getting out of bed. My joints were swollen, I was fatigued, losing a lot of weight and my hair was falling out. I even had difficulty breathing. I went to the doctor looking for answers and endured a two-week hospital stay around Thanksgiving 2015 that finally led to my lupus diagnosis. When you get diagnosed with lupus, it almost feels like a funeral because you’re mourning your old life. I want people to know that your life does not end with your diagnosis– it’s when your life begins a new chapter.
Does this sound familiar? Check out these resources to help you.
What Can Lupus Look Like?
Watch as some of our fierce lupus warriors talk about their journey with lupus and some symptoms they experienced