Help Us Fight Lupus in Fiji, A Cause Close to My Heart

Bula vinaka and hello,

My name is Lily, and I’m raising funds during the month of May for a cause that's incredibly close to my heart – supporting the Lupus Foundation of Fiji.

This Foundation is led by the courageous, Una Tuitubou, who tragically lost her son to Lupus and who lives with the illness herself.

Despite unimaginable personal hardship, she continues to support others across Fiji and the Pacific who are silently battling this chronic illness.

I'm one of the fortunate ones to have encountered Aunty Una (what I like to call her) and here is how our paths crossed.

My Story - A Year of Pain, Uncertainty and Hope

In March 2023, I woke up with pain in my joints. Days progressed and so did the pain. Soon rashes started to appear on my face, arms and legs. My hair started falling and fatigue was a common occurrence.

Not long later, common tasks became a challenge. It was extremely difficult to twist faucets, reach for items in high cupboards, dress myself and not to mention, walk! What broke my heart the most was not being able to carry my son when he needed to be consoled or care for him the way I usually would.

My husband was deployed at the time, and I made sure to mask any indication of my ill health whenever he called. I couldn’t afford to have him distracted while away. He needed to get home safely to our son, should anything have happened to me. That was my reasoning and so, I battled in silence hoping that just as the symptoms appeared, it would miraculously disappear.

I frequently visited our local medical centre and even consulted 10 different doctors in the months that followed. Sadly, not one of them was able to diagnose me. I became accustomed to managing my symptoms, until I got pneumonia. I found myself coughing uncontrollably and it felt like piercing daggers at my chest when I would breathe. I developed mouth ulcers and found it difficult to ingest food. When I did eat, however, I threw everything up. I rapidly lost weight and had bouts of fever throughout the day.

By January 2024, I had already made 3 trips to the ER and doctors still had no clue as to what was happening to me. Two months went by and the sudden passing of my mother in law saw us journey to Fiji.

From the time we arrived in Fiji, family and friends rallied around us to provide the support and prayer. I continued to experience muscular and joint pains, and my health steadily declined. Until one morning, at the pinnacle of my illness, Aunty Una and a close friend, showed up at my doorstep. They insisted on taking me to a doctor to which I hesitated recalling the countless medical appointments back in the UK that amounted to disappointment.

I finally gave in and let them take me to hospital. Little did I know at the time, that the decision proved pivotal to my recovery. That same evening, the doctor confirmed Aunty Una's suspicions. That I was displaying common symptoms of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, otherwise known as Lupus. It all made sense. The joint pains, the fatigue, the rash on my face and body, the hair loss and why my body turned against me when taking medication for pneumonia.

You see, Lupus is a chronic autoimmune illness where the immune system mistakenly identifies the body’s own tissues as foreign invaders and attacks it.

Long story short, I took the prescribed medication and in less than 12 hours I was up and about doing things that I barely managed to attend to in previous months. The first thing I did was pick my 2-year-old up and hug him so tightly. It was something that I could not do for a year and an opportunity that I now never take for granted.

Today, marks 9 months of being off all medication and I grow stronger each day, committed to living life to its fullest.

Many aren't as fortunate, though. They continue to suffer in silence without the needed support. Tragically many people in Fiji have lost their lives due to misdiagnosis and limited or no access to the necessary medical treatment.

The great news is - you can change this. Your donation will be used to care for those living with Lupus, strengthen community awareness programs and fund the Lupus Foundation of Fiji’s new office space.

Just as one person’s donation allowed Aunty Una to visit me at my lowest point, your contribution has the power to impact another life.

Every life is precious, and everyone deserves the opportunity to live out the purpose for which they have been called.

Let’s support Aunty Una. Let’s help Fijian families. Let’s make sure no one has to fight Lupus alone.

Please donate what you can, share this page, and help spread the word during Lupus Awareness Month.

With love and deep gratitude,

Lily