Trish’s Story

One day I received a message on social media from a woman newly diagnosed with Lupus. She was frightened as we all were when first diagnosed, yet she reached out to seek support. Well, you know I was more than willing to help in any way I could. I answered her questions to the best of my ability and reassured her that she is NOT alone.

She had not shared her story with anyone because she truly hadn’t even had the time to go through the normal stages of grief from the loss of your healthy self and accepting you have this cruel disease.

As May rolled around, I received another message from this young woman expressing that since it was Lupus Awareness Month, she decided to share her story! I felt like a proud Momma!!!!

It is my honor and privilege to introduce you to Trish Morgan!

This is Trish’s Story….

“My journey over the last few months wasn’t what I imagined. I had a decent job, successfully passed all my classes under my second master’s program. I crossed the stage in August of 2019. A month later, I became extremely fatigued, hurting everywhere. I saw several doctors and had many different tests performed. I cried many tears from the pain I was in day and night.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in mid-November and even after the diagnosis, my body was still out of wack. After more appointments and discussing my health concerns with my Doctor, the doctor was puzzled and suggested we have more bloodwork done.

In December I had a positive ANA (Anti- Nuclear Antibodies test) and by January, I was referred and seen by a rheumatologist. I was still in pain. This doctor was very sure of what was going on and wanted to do another round of bloodwork to confirm and check my organ level. “

Trish then said something so profound!

“No matter what anyone says, the only one that knows how your body feels is you so you have to look out for yourself. I had been noticing different signs and changes, and I began to do my own research. I’m a real analyst out the womb!” She joked, but oh so true and something I tell advocates all the time. You are your best advocate always!

She continued, “Okay, so February comes and I had a follow-up appointment. I was so frightened that I had gotten my dates mixed up. I rush to the office and I promise you I’ve never been in the room with a doctor as long as I did that day.

The doctor was going over results after results. My heart began beating fast and the soft music playing in the background supposedly relaxing me did no such thing!! After an hour went by and we are still talking I began to zone out. It’s like I heard what he’d been saying, but I was also trying to tune out the voices in my head. As he talked, I was worrying about my life, wife (thank you for all you do,) family, social life, etc. “

I then asked Trish what helped her stay sane since clearly this diagnosis is a hard pill to swallow.

She stated, “There was ONE thing that I held tight to and that was my faith in GOD!!! “ I could have shouted right there!!!!

She continued, “I wasn’t in denial, but instead I was accepting even though it took me some time and I cried tears both seen and unseen. Those unseen tears were the worst because I felt alone, and no one understood the level of pain and tiredness that came over me. ”

Don’t we all feel this way from time to time?!

Trish explained, “In conversation with someone the other day they made the statement that you don’t know, if you don’t know. That made perfect sense in more than one way. Just because you can physically see someone’s outer appearance doesn’t mean you can see the inner. That’s just it; not only am I living with Lupus, which is invisible but also Rheumatoid Arthritis (Rhupus). That can be an invisible disease also.”

She said something hit her. “Since May is Lupus Awareness month, I thought, what better time to share my truth.”

She was bold and courageous and made a public declaration!

“I am a Lupus Warrior and every day I wake up knowing what I have has no end date. There is no cure. I also serve a God who is mighty that will meet and supply my every need. He has done too much for me to give up now!!! My faith is secure, and I have God’s divine favor over my life!! 💜💜💜💜💜”

Don’t you see why I feel like a proud Momma?! It takes a lot of courage to be completely open and transparent! Thank you Trish for openly sharing your journey with #teamangelslupusjourney and please know we are here to support you as much as we can and cheer you on along the way.

You can continue to follow Trish’s story on: IG https://instagram.com/quietstorm408?igshid=bg3kxohh2dim , FB https://www.facebook.com/trish.morgan.754

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