Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Hi I’m Nicola 

I am 33yrs of age and Here’s a little story about my journey.

I have lived years with many ongoing problems due to SLE and I am not alone there are around 15,000 people in England and Wales With SLE and around 2000 people diagnosed a year.

I was diagnosed with SLE a life threatening condition just days before my 14th birthday. A painful blistering rash had suddenly appeared on my face overnight. The next day doctors treated Me for eczema, i managed just a week of cream and the blisters had spread severally over my entire face, followed by unbearable leg/joint pains making me unable to walk and severe migraines, Thankfully My doctor was quick to spot the signs and I was rushed to hospital, there after just days they diagnosed me with Lupus SLE it started attacking my organs, I started loosing my hair and as a teenage girl with burning skin and blisters over my face and body, Scared, not able to sit out in the sun for this would result in a flare and this made a big impact on my life, I was then told because of the severity of my lupus and the amount of medication I was on to try bring my condition under control that I would never be able to conceive.

I met my husband in 2002 and he is still by my side in 2020 he has helped me throughout this lupus journey. In 2004 I became pregnant with my first child, in the second trimester I became ill with septicaemia almost losing my life and my child’s but we made it and in may 2005 I had a healthy baby boy. Only young myself and just months after having my first child I became pregnant again and at just 30 weeks and weighing 2lb 12oz I had a healthy baby girl. Very poorly back and to from hospital staying in weeks at a time trying to get my condition under control I was diagnosed with arthritis, osteopenia, fibromyalgia, Raynauds etc suffering with my underlying condition I was eventually given retuximab in 2012 as no other medications seemed to get me stable. With relief this along side my other medications Im living a Near comfortable life with little flares and in 2014 we planned to have another child who was happily born safely in 2015. 

I have enjoyed taking on small exercises like swimming, walking and recently yoga when my pain levels are down and due to lockdown I have taken up treadmill and turbo trainer and feel I am ready to take on and try my best to complete couch to 5k. 

I am not only doing this to raise awareness of Lupus but also for myself, as it has taken all these years until now to come to terms and except the fact I have lupus and that I will not let it beat me! 

I would like to raise as much awareness as possible! especially to those young living with lupus.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. xx