Special Lupus Awareness Issue May 2017 | Page 65

On March 8th, 2015, we were airlifted to our neighboring island Martinique where she was cared for for over a year. I dropped everything -- my business and sacrificed being  a mother to my beloved son to be by my daughter's side. It’s not easy seeing your loved one endure such pain. It's not easy seeing your loved one having to take so many drugs but what can you do? As time went by, it allowed me the opportunity to better understand lupus. It also allowed me to better understand my daughter.  As a mother of a lupie it’s not easy. But I find ways to make parenting a lupie work for me.  I treat her like the weather. When she's calm, I keep calm. When she’s up and bubbly I do the same. On days when she feels like shutting everyone out I let her be. It’s really a challenge and difficult task to live a normal life with such condition. But as a mother of a lupie, if I can do it, with the strength of the Almighty, you can do it too. "No one person will ever understand what you are going through. Do you even know how you do it? Or even understand how you make it through? I made it through because of the Almighty God above who strengthened and directed my path." Nisa Mathurin 64