Another Warrior
Donation protected
My name is Angelica Jeffers. Some know me as a wife, mom, Officer Jeffers, their family photographer…but what some people do not realize, I am a warrior that is struggling as I Lupus SLE, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.
I was diagnosed at the age of 8 with one of the worst cases that my pediatrician had ever seen in a juvenile. Years of agony, doctors' appointments and countless doctor bills, we got the official diagnosis was not just Lupus but also juvenile RA. I struggled to keep up with daily tasks and had to give up a promising career in martial arts after earning my black belt. My body couldn’t handle the physicality that was needed to compete. My school was concerned with abuse due to whelps on my body from the hives and butterfly rashes.
Fast forward to 20 years later; After going into remission, symptoms started to return. Blood work wasn’t showing what it needed to in order to confirm that the beast that I had battled before had returned. It takes some patients years to gain the diagnosis of Lupus due to the complexity and doctors not wanting to hand over a death sentence to their patients. November 2017, I got the call from my doctor that my worst fears were confirmed, the diseases were active again. This past year I have been on numerous medications. At one point I was taking over 10 pills a day along with chemo, steroids, anti-malaria medication and injections. Almost a year later from "THE Call" I am starting my third chemo right before Thanksgiving but this time we are in the big leagues with infusions. This was the last resort due to the complications and risks.
Being a wife and mother with my diagnosis is EXTREMELY hard. Not being able to function on a daily basis, being stiff, dealing with cognitive issues that accompany this disease is embarrassing. Everyday it is getting harder and harder to hide the pain that I am in. In my office, I drop files because my fingers cannot move, my hair falling out and breaking so I chopped my hair off. Behind the smiles and make up is a woman who is tired and just wants to feel normal. I will never be cured, all we can hope and pray for is research to find a cure.
I was diagnosed at the age of 8 with one of the worst cases that my pediatrician had ever seen in a juvenile. Years of agony, doctors' appointments and countless doctor bills, we got the official diagnosis was not just Lupus but also juvenile RA. I struggled to keep up with daily tasks and had to give up a promising career in martial arts after earning my black belt. My body couldn’t handle the physicality that was needed to compete. My school was concerned with abuse due to whelps on my body from the hives and butterfly rashes.
Fast forward to 20 years later; After going into remission, symptoms started to return. Blood work wasn’t showing what it needed to in order to confirm that the beast that I had battled before had returned. It takes some patients years to gain the diagnosis of Lupus due to the complexity and doctors not wanting to hand over a death sentence to their patients. November 2017, I got the call from my doctor that my worst fears were confirmed, the diseases were active again. This past year I have been on numerous medications. At one point I was taking over 10 pills a day along with chemo, steroids, anti-malaria medication and injections. Almost a year later from "THE Call" I am starting my third chemo right before Thanksgiving but this time we are in the big leagues with infusions. This was the last resort due to the complications and risks.
Being a wife and mother with my diagnosis is EXTREMELY hard. Not being able to function on a daily basis, being stiff, dealing with cognitive issues that accompany this disease is embarrassing. Everyday it is getting harder and harder to hide the pain that I am in. In my office, I drop files because my fingers cannot move, my hair falling out and breaking so I chopped my hair off. Behind the smiles and make up is a woman who is tired and just wants to feel normal. I will never be cured, all we can hope and pray for is research to find a cure.
Organizer and beneficiary
David Allan Muha
Organizer
Converse, TX
Donald Jeffers
Beneficiary