Supporters

 Keatra Green (Lupus Supporter)
 Who do you know who has Lupus? Paige Stewart and a few other family members of friends. What is you relationship to this person?Paige is my daughter What is the hardest thing about being a Lupus Supporter?Seeing Paige in so much pain and wanting to help so bad but can"t help with the pain. Tell a story that you went through with this person. Or a time where
you were inspired by them.. I have been inspried by Paige at an early age, before getting sick and now she has such a big heart. There was a time when first she was getting sick so often she was in so much pain and was in bed all night not being able to move or even call for help, i woke to go to work and looked in on her as i always do and their she lye, My heart almost broke in half after helping her up it was hard not to cry but i told her i would do anything i can to make the pain stop even go out and purchase some weed for her to smoke, and in all that pain she laughed and said no mommy thats ok, so as much as i fuss and complain sometimes i think of Paige and how she pushes threw. What have you learned through supporting someone with lupus? How people are so  unaware of how serious this disease is and help is needed. How does being a lupus supporter changed your outlook on life? Howwill you be a better person? Trying to complain less is my big goal, seeing what she goes through on a daily basess and supporting her and others in what they want to do in life, because i know she can do anything she sets her mind to. How has being a lupus supporter changed your relationship with
people? Trying to be more patient.

Leah Henry (Supporter)

Who do you know who has Lupus? Paige Stewart / Queen TuT What is you relationship to this person? Best Friend

What is the hardest thing about being a Lupus Supporter? I wouldn't say that being a lupus supporter is hard. It's easy to support the ones you love. =]
 Tell a story that you went through with this person. Or a time where they inspired you. Earlier in the year, I visited her in the hospital after having lung issues. It was a little crazy seeing tubes connected to her sucking fluids from around her lungs. Despite it all she was very positive and upbeat. Never threw a pity party for herself.
 What have you learned through supporting someone with lupus? After seeing my grandmother, mother and friend deal with their health issues, I have learned that you have to keep pushing on, no matter what life throws you. It will get better. This motto has helped me push forward in my own life How has being a lupus supporter changed your relationship with people? My relationships with people haven't changed at all. People aren’t defined by their health issues. Tomorrow is promised to no one, we are all blessed to see another day.

 
Ed Heath (Supporter)         
               Hi, my name is Ed Heath.  I have a very dear friend who has Lupus. Her name is Paige Stewart. I've come to know Paige through a very good friend & co-worker of mine who just happens to be her Aunt. By both talking with her Aunt as well as with Paige, I've learned a great deal about Paige's involvement with Lupus.  
                 The very hardest thing about being a Lupus Supporter is learning of the pain that a loved one must endure. Like most diseases there are quiet periods & active times, & certain aspects where there is chronic pain. Seeing our loved ones enduring all that pain is even painful to me, & I'm a bystander,so to speak, in this terrible disease.
          When Paige's Aunt  gave me a first-hand account of a recent episode that put Paige in the hospital with lung problems, I almost cried over the phone. This poor girl could have died yet she fought bravely to see another day. Then another & so on, enduring more pain & different pains resulting from Lupus. She refuses to be brought down by Lupus & its terror, inspiring us all thru her courage & determination! By supporting someone with Lupus like Paige who leads by example, I've found myself more determined to persevere in certain aspects of my own life whereas I would have previously just given up hope. She's an inspiration to many people in general, but particularly to me.
             I provide support to Paige mostly thru my written words to her in letters, txts, & cards. She has an "Inspiration Wall" in her room which she looks at each time she enters & exits the room. I provide her notes, poems I wrote, quotations from famous people, & wall hangings with inspirational messages on them so when she looks at or re-reads these items, she too will be re-inspired!  I joined Team Tut which is Paige's Lupus Support Team because I feel a need to help her in any way I can. I'm intending to join Team Tut this Spring in next year's Lupus Walk.
            Knowing Paige & the hurdles she has jumped over in order to live a reasonably normal life has personally given me more determination to overcome my own hurdles in life. Paige is a remarkable girl who displays a maturity that is far beyond her calendar year age. She allows herself to dream then tries to make those dreams a reality. Too often seniors such as myself, find ourselves too cynical with life & its setbacks & obstacles.  My takeaway from Paige has been to renew my own dreams, not allowing cynicism to dampen or defeat me in achieving those dreams. My mantra has changed from a "well, maybe?" to a "Can Do!", & I often find myself reflecting on Paige's determination in fighting Lupus as My Inspiration!
               I've always been a "people person". I believe the biggest change in my relationship with people since being a Lupus supporter has to be the additional compassion I now feel toward people. I'm sure there are many examples of Lupus survivors like Paige who seek only our understanding, not our pity. We owe them all a debt of gratitude for their love, strength, & resolve shown daily in their lives. As we the Lupus supporters gain strength ourselves from the many examples of Lupus survivors, we become better people.
                I wish you much hope & success in this endeavor because I know how personal this issue is to you & that you have made Lupus Awareness as one of your "Life's Missions". It too is already on the Road to Success!!Love,  Uncle Ed  

Salahudin Nemley (Supporter)

Who do you know who has Lupus? Paige Stewart / Queen TuT What is you relationship to this person?  Sister What is the hardest thing about being a Lupus Supporter? Knowing that in their moment of pain there's nothing you can do to stop it. Tell a story that you went through with this person. Or a time where they inspired you. She's the meaning of Don't let anything stop you. On days where she can't move she manages to muster up enough energy to get up and do something while others complain. What have you learned through supporting someone with lupus? The importance of telling someone you love them even if it’s for no reason. Also how to be a true friend/brother to those around me. How has being a lupus supporter changed your relationship with people? learned to look at other peoples problems with a more caring outlook instead of taking it for face value because a lot of the times its deeper than we think 

Adeola Gbamuse (Supporter)
Who do you know who has Lupus? Paige Stewart
What is your relationship to this person?  My significant Other. What is the hardest thing about being a Lupus Supporter? Seeing your friend or friends in constant pain or in the hospital.Tell a story that you went through with this person. Or a time where you were inspired by them. Paige Stewart was once in the hospital were i went to visit her. I don't see a lot of people I know and care about in the hospital so seeing her there made me feel sad and helpless. I prayed for her health & safety.What have you learned through supporting someone with lupus? I've learned that the biggest or most supportive thing you can do is just love them. Different people have different types of lupus so everyone's lupus is different. Just love, help and smile.How does being a lupus supporter changed your outlook on life? How will you be a better person? Being a lupus supporter makes me realize how blessed I am just to breath with ease, it is a true blessing. I can only try to be a better person by loving everyone and trying to enter every situation with a second view of how? & why? How has being a lupus supporter changed your relationship with people? It has helped me to feel more connected with others in need, to led a helping hand to both friends and strangers who want or need it.

Ricardo P. Belcon
 (Supporter)

Who Do you know who had Lupus? A few people but mainly my good friend Paige
. She is very close to me. She's like family
. What is the hardest thing about being a Lupus Supporter?
 Watching them go through certain breathing issues and not being able to help. It bothers me a lot
.  Tell a story, Or a time where you were inspired by them. Every time Paige and I perform together. After we get off that stage, breathing issue or not, she's ready to rehearse as soon as her breathe comes back. What have you learned through supporting someone with lupus?
 Shows me to not let anything stop me from doing what I love
. I've that if you have a condition, look at it as an obstacle. Build yourself, overcome the issue, and nothing can stand in your way
. How does being a lupus supporter changed your outlook on life? How will you be a better person? It's made me aware of more things that shouldn't be overlooked
. I'm more humbled and more observant of people's feelings and their actions. 


Fredricka Holloway
 (Supporter)

Who do you know who has Lupus?
 Paige Stewart 


 What is you relationship to this person? 
She's my cousin


What is the hardest thing about being a Lupus Supporter?
 I don't like when she gets really sick and has to go to the hospital and just knowing she has to deal with the disease. Tell a story, Or a time where you were inspired by them. 
I'm always inspired by Paige, because she doesn't let Lupus get the best of her. She's has a great spirit and energy to keep doing what she's doing and living life to the fullest.


What have you learned through supporting someone with lupus?
 I learn how I can be involved in helping the cause. How does being a lupus supporter changed your outlook on life? How will you be a better person?
 I'm always looking at my health as a blessing and trying to uplift others.
 How has being a lupus supporter changed your relationship with people?
 It makes me more aware of various illnesses.

Shamika (Supporter)

Who do you know who has Lupus?
 A close friend and family member of mine has lupus. What is the hardest thing about being a Lupus Supporter? The hardest part about being a Lupus supporter is awareness, alot off people aren’t aware of it. So they don’t know how serious it is. Tell a story, Or a time where you were inspired by them. I have yet to meet someone as inspirational as her. I always get goose bumps when something touches me like WOW! And it amazes me how she had doctors tell her she would have trouble walking. I met this wonderful person at a poetry workshop and she drove my best friend and I home that night because we were going the same direction. We had a long girl talk and when She told her story I got goose bumps. We have been friends ever since and I tell my friends this story all the time because now she cannot only walk but she is one of the most PHENOMINAL DANCERS I KNOW. What have you learned through supporting someone with lupus?
 Her story shows me that stereotypes can never dictate your destiny, only you know what your future holds. Supporting this woman has showed me that only God has the final say. How does being a lupus supporter changed your outlook on life? How will you be a better person? If you want to do something DO IT, chase your dreams and don’t let nothing stop you! Not a sickness , or disorder , cancer NOTHING! I also thought that power comes in heart ache ...and the pain this girl went through I would never relate to but I understand and it only made her stronger