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

Sheree Taylor is the Founder of Taylor Consulting Solutions, LLC.

Her experience includes working as the
Assistant Director/Childcare Coordinator of Help Me Grow Alabama. She has over 10 years of experience
in educational outreach in Nutrition, early care education and chronic disease management. Sheree has
served on several coalitions at the grassroots level while managing grant dollars to enhance the quality
of life of Alabamians on health initiatives during her time with Auburn University. Sheree has served as a
Regional director over several counties for equitable neighborhood initiatives in Alabama.

Sheree holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition & Foods from Jacksonville State University and a
Masters of Adult Education from Auburn University. Sheree is a certified Senior Diabetes
educator/facilitator from the University of Chicago in Illinois). She holds several certifications in the
areas of Sports Nutrition, Extension, and Nutrition and Wellness. Through her experiences, she has
gained knowledge in assisting communities in reaching their goals through building partnerships,
curriculum development, developing publications and articles for academia, promoting family, and
community engagement using strategic planning and professional development.

Sheree enjoys watching football, crafting and most of all spending time with her family and friends
making memories. Sheree has served her community volunteering with youth sports organizations as a
board member and she is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. A service to all mankind.

Proud native of Lafayette Louisiana. Born to the Benoit and Morgan family but was raised by his Grandparents, Doris Benoit and Connie Bellow Cormier. Although they didn’t come from a lot, they always had love and joy in their home.
As a young person, Donavon was baptized and confirmed at Our Lady Queen of Peace where he briefly taught communion student as he was preparing for high school graduation.

Upon graduating from Lafayette High School, he was privileged to get accepted to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. While there, he worked as a Banker for Bank of America in order
to assist his Grandparents with college expenses. During college he also added a part-time job to his schedule which landed him with food service opportunities working all across the country
including New Jersey, New York, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge.
While in school, unfortunately Donavon grandfather passed unexpectedly shortly before he graduated but was blessed that his
grandmother and rest of family were present.

Upon graduating from Lafayette High School, he was privileged to get accepted to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. While there, he worked as a Banker for Bank of America in order to assist his Grandparents with college expenses. During college he also added a part-time job to his schedule which landed him with food service opportunities working all across the country including New Jersey, New York, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge. While in school, unfortunately Donavon grandfather passed unexpectedly shortly before he graduated but was blessed that his grandmother and rest of family were present. During his career in Food/Facilities Services he has been blessed to work for several notable corporations including ARAMARK, IBM, Bank of America, Crothall, Baton Rouge General and Currently Capitol City Produce. His journey would not have been possible without the “Village” that raised him thru Church, Home, and School. Although he has much further path ahead to prepare for, he’s very grateful for path he’s been given. Life isn’t possible without support – the support that provided for him during his matriculation leading to now adulthood. In the future, he hopes to further his education in Law and continue to serve his great fraternity of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc along with other service organizations that he donated his time to. He looks forward to talking more in dept this week…Be blessed and continue to uplift one a another.

GM ! 4-A Sister Club Non-profit organization here in Lafayette, Louisiana would like to spotlight our Lupus Warrior of the week. Meet Evangelist Crystal D Bell, if she could think back about her first undiagnosed symptom of lupus, it would be June 2013; she was awakened during the night with this horrible itch all over her body, for nearly two weeks, all she did was soak in oatmeal baths and using any and every home remedy or regiment that was suggested to her. Growing up as a young kid with chronic asthma she felt the need to mention that to her doctor so he instantly diagnosed her with asthma of the skin lol little did he know.

Well, she was told use this and use that, don’t use this and don’t use that; she was miserable!
For years her calves were so beautiful and toned from wearing heels everyday to work and stilettos to sing and shout in ( I’m an Evangelist in the ministry and been singing since age 11) but, at one point she would scratch her legs so much until they would bleed and swell.

Fast forward to 2014, one week before what once was the biggest day of her life, she developed a dark ring on her arm and a rash across the bridge of her nose and across both cheeks.

Crystal was like OH MY GOD! The dress was sleeveless so what was I suppose to do with this she said, I couldn’t walk down the aisle with what seemed to be a big black ashy ring on my arm.

She called the best seamstress in the world, (she was a life saver.

Showed the gown to Ms Delores Darby and simply showed her the unwelcomed bruise on her arm well, needless to say, no one ever knew about the bruise. Even though she fixed the issue with her arm, not even makeup could cover the rash on her face.

As time passed her body was being invaded by something foreign; hair began thinning, joints would ache like crazy and constant doctor visits from being so tired all the time. She stopped wearing perfumes and lotions because thought it would cause her to itch as well.

Constant fatigue plagued her body, pain in joints and her skin darkened to the point where even in the hot and humid Louisiana weather, wore long sleeved shirts and pants daily to cover up the discoloration to avoid the stares of people.

In 2018 after all the test, she was finally diagnosed with LUPUS, didn’t want to believe it there it was in plain BLACK & WHITE! This has been a long tedious journey but she so blessed to have the best family support; parents, kids and grandkids along with her fiancée, aunts & cousins and friends also the best medical support team ever.