HEALTH MATTERS
Lupus Day at a College
Prep High School 5/12/23
for Lupus Detroit
Article by Francine Houston
Photos by Sharon Harris
Sharon Harris invited me and two other Lupus warriors (Triv Barnes and Rahmya Trewern) to speak for Lupus Day. It was also considered free dress day for the students because they wear uniforms every day and have to pay $1 to dress the way they want. Since it was considered “free dress day”, they didn’t have to pay to dress as they pleased. As I walked into the school, the students were wearing regular clothes and seemed more relaxed and attentive that day. Lupus Day took place in the gymnasium, where students sat on the bleachers as the Lupus warriors were off in the center of the gym floor seated in chairs like a talk panel about to give a presentation.
As the presentation begin, they explained what Lupus was and the man over the Lupus Day event shared how he lost two daughters to Lupus. Tynecia Smith-Tolbert and Tonesha Whitaker were just in their 20’s when they passed from Lupus. Tears started falling from my eyes after seeing their faces on the screen during the presentation. I had to hold myself together so I could speak at this event. As the man spoke, the audience had to encourage him because he was starting to get emotional and tear up.
That’s when the mic was handed to the