Lupus Warrior who recently got her doctorate in Special Education Leadership

Dr. Helena Fields
Robbins, IL

What did you get your degree in?
Special Education Leadership

What school did you attend?
Concordia University Chicago

Did you tell your school or professors about your lupus?
I told a couple of my professors when I needed extensions on assignments due to flares.

Did the school give you accommodation because of your lupus?
I signed up with the Disability Services Office prior to starting the program. The accommodation they provided were extensions when needed for assignments.

What type of lupus do you have?
I have been diagnosed with systemic lupus and lupus nephritis.

When were you diagnosed with lupus?
I was diagnosed in 1998, but I started having symptoms in 1993.

How has your life changed since your diagnosis?
Since my diagnosis, I have battled depression and anxiety in addition to the symptoms associated with lupus. Unfortunately, I have had major organ involvement that led to multiple hospitalizations, surgeries, and procedures. Despite my condition, I found solace and hope from my faith in God and support from family and friends.

Has a lack of public awareness about lupus affected your quality of life?
Things have come a long way since I was first diagnosed. Thanks to the internet, there is much more information available about lupus. However, there are many people who do not understand the toll that lupus has because it is an invisible illness in most cases. For example, it is hard to explain the level of fatigue associated with it.

How did you find the Lupus Society of Illinois (LSI)?
I found LSI through a friend of mine a couple of decades ago. He knew someone with lupus, and I began following her on social media. That led me to attending a support group that was sponsored by LSI.

How has the LSI helped you cope with lupus?
It is important to be connected with people who have a shared experience. The LSI provided the opportunity for those connections via the support groups and other events that they sponsor. They also provide a lot of resources that support people with lupus throughout their journey.

What would you want the world to know about lupus? Why?
As cliché as it sounds, I would just emphasize that you cannot judge a book by its cover. You really never know what someone is going through, so just be kind and be informed. Ask questions and give grace. There is a lot of grace given to people with other illnesses, and people who have lupus need that extended as well.