My Warrior-Friend Lizz.
I have a friend from junior high with whom, through the wonders of Facebook, I have had the privilege to become reacquainted. What I have learned about her via emails, IMs, posts, and even face-to-face over the past year has inspired me.
Lizz was diagnosed with Lupus 15 years ago. For those not familiar with this disease, it is an autoimmune disease of unknown origin (likely caused in part by genetics) meaning the immune system cannot distinguish between harmful viruses, bacteria, etc. and healthy tissues. The result is that the antibodies of those with Lupus attack that person’s body causing illness and even damaging organs. This is a very scary disease.
For Lizz it must have been especially frightening, as her sister had also been diagnosed with Lupus and saw how it can truly take over one’s life. It causes weight gain, serious mood swings as it affects hormones (Lupus has been coined “the emotional disease”), sickness and fatigue to name a few of the possible symptoms. It has the potential to completely take over a person’s life, causing severe depression.
In Lizz’s case, her Lupus reached a point where she was treated with Chemotherapy. Eventually she underwent a kidney transplant.
Knowing what was coming, having seen her sister suffer from this disease, Lizz made a brave decision: she decided to attack the disease as opposed to allowing it to take over her life. When she had to undergo chemotherapy and notice her hair beginning to fall out, she decided to shave her head. That way Lupus and chemo didn’t make her lose her hair, she chose to remove it (I love it). As difficult as it was at times, she stayed positive despite the mood swings, the sick feelings, and the fatigue.
She was told (and it makes sense) she would not live normal life – no school, no work, relationships would be difficult etc. In other words, this disease was going to drastically limit her life in everyway possible.
That was 15 yrs ago.
Since then she went to school, had a wonderful career and even got married to a wonderful, patient man who has joined her in her struggle, supporting her through the toughest of times (even the super emotional ones).
She has also been supported by wonderful friends. Eventually she needed a kidney transplant and her best friend donated one to her. Unfortunately, and very recently, her body rejected the transplant, and it had to be removed. This has forced her to be put on dialysis – yet another very difficult trial.
She has gone through so much and has handled it in such a positive manner, I can only hope and pray she can face this trial as she has this disease over the past 15 years.
Lizz contacted me about taking some pictures of her and her husband, but right before I was to visit she informed me that she was probably going to cancel because the medications that were supposed to be helping her keep her transplanted kidney were making her extremely puffy and sick. She did what she could to keep the puffiness down and in her true warrior way decided to go through with the photo-shoot and brought along her warrior sister, boyfriend and daughters.
Despite what she was going through, Lizz and her family spent an afternoon with me posing for pictures and having a good time. To say that I had a such a wonderful experience seeing her again after all of these years AND meeting her family was AWESOME -- would be an understatement. I felt that this has been one of my favorite photo-shoots because I felt creative, inspired and BLESSED. While she has repeated over and over that she doesn’t feel beautiful, the pictures do not lie. Lizz, even in one of your most difficult years, you are stunning.
Liz, thank you for allowing me the privilege of taking pictures of you and your family. I know it was not easy. I pray that you are blessed with a new kidney, with strength to see this through with a positive attitude and with a continued faith in God and miracles. You are, truly, beautiful.
I will always admire your strength sweet friend.
To learn more about Lupus, please visit: http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html
Lizz, sweet husband and sweet daughter.
This is LOVE.
Beautiful! And you were right, she is simply stunning. Thanks for sharing her story and her strength. Those are pictures to be treasured.
Posted by: Selena | February 11, 2011 at 10:59 PM