She is a retired preschool teacher of sixteen years. She has been living and thriving with Systemic Lupus Erythematous for over twenty years in Little Rock, Arkansas.
A volunteer and a lupus advocate spreading lupus awareness near and far. She is a Lupus Warrior and a Lupus Champion boxing lupus 365 days a year acclaiming God as her victory being everything she needs and more!
Her first lupus symptoms began at age nine.

After being misdiagnosed for over twenty- five years and four hip surgeries later she received a diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematous while being hospitalized for two weeks with chronic pain, fever of an unknown origin ,chronic urticaria and fatigue.

She stated, “Finally having an answer was welcomed after so many years of unanswered questions.”

At age twenty -nine Antoinette was diagnosed with a vascular necrosis of both hips a condition she developed from chronic steroid usage for treatment of chronic inflammation and joint pain.

She received hip surgeries at age twenty -nine bilateral core drillings to relieve the pain that she was suffering. The surgeries were not successful ,at the age of thirty she received total hip replacements in both hips . Still not having a diagnosis of lupus she continued with steroids to gain some relief from all the inflammation, joint pain and rashes. She developed hypertension and steroid induced diabetes. By the mercy and grace of God he allowed her to return to work after rehabilitation.

In 2010 she started having more problems with her hips and was forced to retire from her teaching position. In 2014she was diagnosed with metallosis a condition that she developed from the metal on metal hip implants that she had received in 2000. In January 2014 Antoinette had her fifth hip surgery and turned 45 in the hospital and once again went through rehab. Thankful that God taught her to walk again she never misses an opportunity to tell others of the Lemonade that God has made and continues to make in her life!

he medications that she received for pain after the surgery caused a new condition gastroparesis it slowed down the process of digesting food, stomach pain and not allowing food to stay down she was now losing unwanted weight!

In 2019 during a horrible lupus flare she proclaimed that people with lupus can live and thrive. It is during this time that she created the Lupus Champions Facebook group A support group dedicated to spreading and promoting lupus awareness. In this group we are encouraging help ,hope, healing, positively inspiring words, inspirational stories, resources and more !
We Are Living And Thriving With Lupus
One year …
One month …
One week…
One day ….
One hour …
One minute…
And one second at a time 💜❤️🥊❤️
In 2023 Antoinette had an occipital lobe stroke affecting her vision ,balance and her cognitively. After being hospitalized doctors discovered that she has a pea size blockage in her brain.

“I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I do know who holds tomorrow”, she stated !

When Life Gives You Lemons Let God Make The Lemonade.
Busy 🐝

everyone

followers

lupus

lupuslife

4 A’s Sisters Lupus Club

4 A’s Sisters Lupus Club April 2024 Spotlights
Janay Townes, born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, and later moved to Carney’s Point, NJ, when she was fourteen. Janay was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus kidney nephritis stage four in 2004, and she was only fifteen years old.

Not knowing that lupus causes a lot of underlying illnesses, throughout the years, she has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Avascular Necrosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Asthma, Anemia, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), Fibromyalgia, Depression/Anxiety, High Blood Pressure, Sleep Apnea, Severe Insomnia, Raynaud’s Syndrome, and severe Migraines.

She has had numerous surgeries and procedures such as Bilateral Hip Core Decompression, Left Hip Replacement, Right Shoulder Replacement, Gallbladder removal, Appendix removal, several Colonoscopies/Endoscopies, and removal of Cancer Cells, and soon will have her Right Hip Replaced.

She has been on every lupus medication/treatment, including multiple rounds of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, platelet transfusions, plasmapheresis, losing all her teeth, and being in full menopause by age thirty.

With all that she has going on with her many illnesses, she has remained a humble lupus warrior and is still standing despite what she has been through. Janay still has good and bad days, but no matter what, she wakes up every morning ready to defeat lupus and whatever else comes her way.

Having lupus is 365 days, 24/7 job, with NO days off. Janay started LupiesUnite (Founder) so people with lupus can have a voice and be heard. Many people are still ignorant about lupus. If only they knew what people with lupus go through daily, they would understand why lupus survivors are so vocal about Lupus Awareness.

Janay may have lupus, but lupus does not have her. Lupus will not bring Janay down. No matter how many times she may fall, she will get right back up and continue to fight, spread awareness, and educate the world about lupus.” Let’s show some love for Janay!

4 A’s Sisters Lupus Club recognize our March monthly Lupus Warriors. Meet Mrs. Carol A George-Perry who was diagnosed at 16 yrs old. This was late 80s when there was very little research on lupus. She had to move to Houston to seek treatment. The diagnosis turned her active lifestyle upside down.

Carol was told she should never have kids. She was told that pregnancy could kill her. Lupus didn’t know she had a praying grandmother. She has 4 beautiful sons. They were all healthy.

At age 52, Carol have now lived with Lupus longer than she has lived without. Carol have had some really difficult times. She always push through. Carol never succumb to the pain.

Carol is fortunate to live in NC now. She receives her care at Duke Rheumatology. She has been able to get off most of her medications. Only have an infusion monthly.

Quote, “I am happily married to my best friend. I love to travel”. She’s currently a Dental Territory Manager for a Federal Dental Plan.

Help us show Carol some