Voichita Stewart~New Zealand

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After years of living with lupus Voichita Stewart is now working and is a member of the New Zealand Total Cheerleading Squad.

A young Papakura woman spent two years of her high school life in and out of hospital and desperate to be 'normal'.

Last month she celebrated World Lupus Day by being just that.

Voichita Stewart, 20, was diagnosed with lupus in 2003 when she started having seizures. She spent the next two years visiting doctors and hospitals and undergoing tests.

"It was really scary when I had my first seizure; I had no idea what was happening to me. The doctors diagnosed me with lupus and told me it had probably resulted from an infection I got at camp a year earlier."

She was given drugs to help control the disease which caused her to contract meningitis, putting her in intensive care in an induced coma twice.

Helen Clarke from the Counties Manukau Lupus Care and Support Group describes lupus as an autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body.

Symptoms range from chronic fatigue, joint and muscle aches to migraines, depression, seizures, chest or abdominal pain and a butterfly-like rash on the cheeks.

"Your body thinks it has an infection so goes about fighting it when in fact there is no infection. Your body breaks down its own cells and gets tired fighting it and that's why people with lupus experience extreme fatigue," Ms Clarke says.

Miss Stewart, who attended Baradene College, says tiredness was the hardest symptom to deal with.

"It was so frustrating being so tired and weak all the time. I couldn't go to school anymore so had to do year 12 by correspondence.

"I also had to stop playing netball and cricket. My whole life changed."

It was often hard dealing with lupus because she usually appeared to be healthy, she says.

That's a common problem for people with the disease, Mrs Clarke says.

"I went to a GP who told me I couldn't possibly have lupus because I looked so well.

"The public think the same too but it's hard when you are feeling so tired and sick. People think you're being a bit dramatic so it's hard to be accepted by your peers," she says.

World Lupus Day aimed to raise lupus awareness and educate doctors, the public and family and friends of people with lupus.

"So many New Zealanders have lupus but it is not an easy disease to diagnose," Ms Clarke says.

"Many physicians in New Zealand are unaware of the symptoms and most general practitioners only see one person with lupus in their lives.

"People are suffering without a diagnosis. It can be frustrating and depressing."

In New Zealand, one to two people in every 1000 suffer from lupus and it is more prevalent in Maori, Pacific and Asian people.

Miss Stewart celebrated the day by doing 'normal' things like working and being thankful for how far she has come rather than focusing on the illness.

She has been in remission for four years and has controlled the disease without medication.

"I just lead a healthy life, eating well and keeping fit - and luckily it's worked. I haven't had a seizure in four years."

After years of focusing her time and energy on lupus, Miss Stewart is happy to be finally living a normal life, something she never thought possible while she was bedridden in hospital.

"I'm working fulltime at a children's clothing store and was chosen to be in the New Zealand Total Cheerleading team.

"I hope to get into the police force one day."





www.LupusMCTD.com