Faith

 Hebrews 11:1
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.”
 Hebrews 11:6
“And without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to Him…”


Sometimes we ask ourselves what is the point of having faith. Some people see faith as a synonym top Religion, others as a belief system, and others as a force that keeps them going forward.
The way I see faith is as a daily walk in which we show both our compromise with God and to ourselves. Some people believe having faith implies not taking some kind of action in what they are hoping for, because God wants us to lay all into Him. Here’s something you might have not thought about before… God wants us to be active in our faith.

The bible tells us in the book of Hebrews that it is impossible to please God if we lack faith. Each of the stories we read on the bible about people who took a leap of faith implies these people reached their goals, no matter how improbable. Taking that leap implies acting on our faith. If we are going to apply this to a chronic condition, it means that we will need to take a step forward and visualized ourselves as healed, even if the road ahead looks difficult.

You’ll need your faith strong even to start a treatment, to see the results we are waiting for, to stay strong through a remission. It is all part of a process.

 What is God expecting of us?... you might ask.

He wants us to believe Him, to see ourselves whole, to walk in faith, to set goals and reach them.
This is in no way escapism. I’m not asking you to deny a pain that is obviously there. However, we are called to rise above it. Even in the midst of pain or any health related situation, we need to come to an understanding that it is all just a step along the way and in the bigger picture; there is a chance at overcoming.


 My hardest experience with lupus was not only my initial diagnosis, but the development of nephritis. Those were scary, painful moments. There was so much stress, pain and swelling that I could not even walk. Even through those times I saw myself getting better. Giving up was never an option. For three years I lived through the harshest of scenarios. Three years with high Sed Rate and DS DNA until it reached Nephritis. Those were also three years of increasing my faith, of not looking back or feeling sorry about my condition. I decided to hold on to my faith, follow my treatments and give it a fight. Today, I am in remission, symptom free and although I need to keep monitoring, so far the protein secretion is gone and my kidneys are functioning at a normal rate.

Talking about following treatment, we need to keep the faith even when taking our meds. Sometimes I received medications which secondary effects were enough to make anyone cry, but through that as well, I decided to tackle it with faith and give it time. Eventually I found the treatment that was best for me. I trusted my doctors and my medications, sure. My faith though kept telling me that through this, all ends well that is well. I felt the strength of my faith beach time I saw results improving. It pushes me to reach out to others as help them as well.

To have faith is to understand that we are bigger than our condition, stronger than we thought we were.

It is waking up every morning knowing that it all will pass, that we have a hope to act on; that illness is part of life, but that does not mean that God is not present at the moment of healing. In His mercy, He always stretches out his hand.

Acting upon your faith also implies a responsibility. As I always advise, once you get it, don’t take it for granted. Make sure to follow up and keep good habits that will prevent any fall back. Taking good care of ourselves and being responsible for our welfare, we see the culmination of our faith journey.
God will help us through, in all ways.

Excelling in what we do

The fact that we have a chronic condition shouldn’t be an impediment to give the best we have to offer and excel in what we do. Things are not easy, but if you are willing to go for that extra mile, your efforts will be rewarded.

Dealing with the condition makes us face symptoms like fatigue and other debilitating stages that are tied to emotional responses as well. Sometimes it is easy to get frustrated over the fact that we feel too tired to complete a task. If we let ourselves go, eventually, we will slide and become depressed and we will miss a world of stuff we used to love.

Jesus told us to act in humility, but leaving a legacy in all we do. Don’t be afraid to try and make an effort, there is a reward in challenging ourselves exceeding our own expectations. Surprise yourself with the things you’ll do.

Many lupus patients keep working after overcoming serious episodes linked to their condition. Doing the things you love, even with limitations is one definite step towards healing. By incorporating the positive into our lives, that which we are passionate about, we open ourselves to learn new lessons while touching the lives of others who will benefit from our knowledge, work and effort.

Find your reason, get out there, get active, and give the best you have to offer. This applies in all areas. Even if the condition is keeping you homebound at the moment, take back the reigns of your household, find that online course you always wanted to complete, get ready to face the world once you overcome your particular obstacle.

If you can no longer work because of the condition, then find a venue to stay active, participate in forums, write, do research, and help yourself and others. Always give.

The most important thing is to do all in love and with a heart full of gratitude. Excel in what you do, overcome, and don’t allow Lupus to define who you are.

What we hold in our hearts

"Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind" Psalm 26:2

It is natural for all of us to worry about our physical well being. That is why we make sure to keep up with our check ups and follow up to see all our medical exams come back OK.

Sometimes, we forget about what is really important, what we carry inside, the things that make us up as a person.

We all agree the heart is a vital organ. It is essential to maintain the circulation and oxygenation of blood. If the heart doesn't carry its function, the body fails at a cellular level and eventually deteriorates.

On these verses, the Psalmist is talking about the importance of the heart; although he is not talking about the proverbial muscle. He is talking about our soul and mind.

The Psalmist is asking God to help him understand his own heart, he even asks of God to put him to the test. I mean, who in their right mind asks for that?

Simple: someone who is sure of his belief system and his worth as a person.

Through a relationship with God, we will better understand the processes of life and sometimes in times of trial is when we really find our mettle, the stuff we are made of, so to speak. We show what we hold in our hearts.

God does not gives us grief, He is the author of all beauty. However, as part of our growth we go through unseasonable experiences and even in those moments God is holding us and watching us, looking at what lies within ourselves. It is easy to be happy and smile at life when everything is perfect, but when it isn't, can we do the same?

Its easy to follow when everything is fine, but loyalty and worship in a moment of trial is worth a thousand words. Even if the disposition of our hear is shaken for a brief moment, we must always find within it our ability to be grateful.

God will visit your life for it, because even through moments of trial you are thankful and He is faithful to those He loves.

For every day we live, we have the opportunity to share a smile, give a kind word, make a difference.

Let's just allow God to have a peek at our hearts, change what He thinks, do what its best and keep up with our work in progress. We all live in a world in which, though not perfect, we can still be better.

The Special Power of those who Serve

“…freely, you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8

May 10: International Lupus Awareness Day

May is once again upon us and it is a month in which we celebrate things that are very dear: Mother’s day, National Prayer Month, Memorial Day…May is the grand harbinger of hot Summer Days and also, on May 10, it is  International Lupus Awareness day.

I must confess that at first, when I was diagnosed with Lupus, I didn’t even want to talk about it, as I related it with all that was negative and down turned in my life at the moment. However, I have learned that educating ourselves is the best way to partake in the control of our condition, and educating others is a call and a privilege that keep us emotionally healthy. Knowledge is power and to share it is a responsibility.

It is not only a matter of sharing info within ourselves (those affected by Lupus) but with others as well. On this day, as  it is dedicated to awareness, you might catch a glimpse of purple butterflies, be it in brochures, posters, t shirts, walk for the Cause, speeches, blogs, or another promotional medium.

The main goal for us Lupus patients on this day and always is to focus on healing, first and foremost the physical and emotional aspects of our condition and then share our experiences with others.

Maybe not all of us are ready to give a speech on a public forum, but we can always find a way to do an outreach.

When my attitudes were negative, I used to think “why me?” Now that my perspective has changed I see that every trial just allowed me to grow, live and learn while shaping me into someone string enough to survive my circumstances and come on the other side with a story to share. The pain is but momentary when you compare it with the things that are truly everlasting: the blessings, the opportunity to touch someone else’s lives and say “hey, I’m here, I’ve been through this. I’ll lend my ears, my shoulder if you need it and I’ll keep my eyes open for those things we might learn from one and other at the end of the day.”

So, let’s be open to dialogue, even if informal conversation. Let’s have a word with members of our family, let’s make sure they know about our condition and understand our limitations. That combination of love and understanding will help us all get through.

Let’s talk to our employers, if they understand our condition, it will help productivity, as our needs and those of the company can be aligned.

If you are willing to take dialogue a step further, keep working through church or the Lupus Foundation by doing volunteer work; let’s put our ability to serve to the test. Volunteering is a wonderful complement to your therapy! If you focus on the bigger picture, then those pesky details (read, painful, dark days) won’t hurt as much. I love the idea of freely giving what we have received. Even when going through a condition like ours, let’s make life a blessed event and face the day with renewed faith.

Last but not least, let’s keep in our prayers those who are going through crisis related to our condition, hospital patients, people who have been recently diagnosed. Let’s pray so they can experience effective treatments and let’s also keep their families in our thoughts and prayers as they too are going through a transition that is sometimes confusing and even emotionally draining. Let’s give our support to those who are grieving over family members that lost a battle against this condition as well. We all belong to one family and must care for one and other.

Love to all and keep on walking down the path to healing!

Pregnancy and Lupus

From Web M.D

Doctors once advised women with lupus not to get pregnant due to the potential risks. But while pregnancy with lupus still carries its own set of risks, most women with lupus can safely become pregnant and have healthy babies.

If you have lupus and are thinking about getting pregnant, here's what you need to know about the possible risks and complications. Here's also what you and your doctor can do to help ensure the best outcome for you and your baby.

Preparing for Pregnancy

The first steps toward a healthy pregnancy and baby begin before you become pregnant. If you are considering pregnancy, it's important that you:
Ensure your lupus is under control. The healthier you are when you conceive, the greater your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby. Pregnancy places additional stress on kidneys. Having active kidney disease can cause problems in pregnancy and may even lead to pregnancy loss. So if possible, avoid getting pregnant until your lupus has been under control for at least six months. That's especially true for lupus-related kidney disease.
Review medications with your doctor. Some medications are safe to take during pregnancy. Others, though, can harm your baby. Your doctor may need to stop or switch some medications before you become pregnant. Drugs that should never be taken during pregnancy include methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, leflunomide, and warfarin. Some drugs need to be stopped months before you try to become pregnant.
Select an obstetrician for high-risk pregnancies. Because lupus may present certain risks -- including pregnancy-induced hypertension and preterm birth -- you will need an obstetrician who has experience with high-risk pregnancies and is at a hospital that specializes in high-risk deliveries. If possible, you should meet with the obstetrician before getting pregnant.
Check your health insurance plan. Inadequate insurance should not keep you from getting the treatment that you and your baby need. Make sure your insurance plan covers your health care needs and those of your baby, as well as any problems that may arise.

Managing Problems of Pregnancy

Regular prenatal exams are important for all women. But they are especially important for women with lupus. That's because many potential problems can be prevented or better treated if addressed early. Here are some problems that can occur during pregnancy that you should be aware of:
Flares. Some women report improvement of lupus symptoms during pregnancy. Flares during pregnancy are not common. Periods of increased disease activity occur more often during the first few months after delivery. Research suggests that waiting to get pregnant until your disease has been controlled for at least six months reduces your risk of a flare during pregnancy. Most flares, when they do occur, are mild. Your doctor can treat them with low doses of corticosteroids.

Pregnancy and Lupus

(continued)

Managing Problems of Pregnancy continued...

Pregnancy-induced hypertension. High blood pressure brought on by pregnancy can increase your risk of preeclampsia. This is a serious condition in which there is a sudden increase in blood pressure or protein in the urine or both. It occurs in about one out of every five lupus pregnancies. Preeclampsia requires immediate treatment and often delivery of the baby. It is more common in women with kidney disease or high blood pressure and women who smoke.
Miscarriage. Approximately one out of every five lupus pregnancies ends in miscarriage. Miscarriages are more likely in women with high blood pressure, active lupus, and active kidney disease. Miscarriage can also be the result of antiphospholipid antibodies. These are a type of antibody that increases the tendency to form blood clots in the veins and arteries. That includes those in the placenta. For this reason, it is important to screen for the antibodies. It's especially important for women who have miscarried before. If the antibodies are found, your doctor may prescribe a blood thinner. That will help prevent the formation of clots. With the use of such medications, about 80% of the women will not miscarry.
Preterm delivery. About one out of every three women with lupus delivers preterm. That means before completing 37 weeks of pregnancy. This is more likely in women with preeclampsia, antiphospholipid antibodies, and active lupus. It's important to know the symptoms of premature labor, including:

• Backache
• Pelvic pressure
• Leakage of blood or clear fluid from the vagina
• Abdominal cramps
• Contractions occurring every 10 minutes

Let your doctor know right away if you experience these symptoms.
Women with lupus may have a greater risk of pregnancy complications. They do not, though, have greater chance of having a baby with a birth defect or mental retardation compared to women without lupus.

Caring for Yourself During Pregnancy

In addition to seeing your doctor regularly and following your treatment plan, there are many things you can do to care for yourself and your baby:

• Get plenty of rest. Plan for a good night's sleep and take breaks throughout the day.
• Eat healthfully. Avoid excessive weight gain. Have your doctor refer you to a dietitian if needed.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
• If you have any unusual symptoms, speak to your doctor right away.

Managing Delivery and a New Baby

Your doctor will decide the method of delivery -- caesarian section or vaginal. He'll do this by taking into account your health and your baby's health at the time of labor. Many women with lupus can have vaginal deliveries. But if the mother or baby is under stress, a caesarian section may be the safest and fastest way to deliver. If you have taken steroids during pregnancy, your doctor will increase your dose during labor to help your body cope with the added stress.

Resurrecting your Dreams

“I’ve come so you’ll have life and life in abundance” John 10:10

This is week; we celebrate the most important week for those who follow the Christian faith. It will culminate next Sunday as we celebrate the Resurrection.

I have been thinking about the importance of understanding that Christ died to give us abundant life. For people like us, who suffer chronic conditions, this concept is hard to grasp, as we need to deal with our conditions and go through life either with limited resources or few opportunities to live plenty. We let ourselves go, and for those of us who believe in the concept, it does not pertain to our current condition, but to something only attainable at the end of our journey; a promise to be fulfilled.

However, the word of God gives us all certainty that our abundant life can start here and now. We can have a plenty and abundant life, here and now with Him and through Him.

Healthy or not, we have found ourselves thinking, well, if had the right amount of money, or if I had the means or the health needed, I would accomplish this or that. In my opinion, the first step towards accomplishing what is expected of us is to start a personal relationship with God. He will open our eyes to the beautiful, fulfilling things that require not money, means, and lots of time and will allow us to experience what it is to be healthy, even with a condition.

As a patient of a Chronic Condition, I remember clearly as I was diagnosed, on a month of April some years ago. My initial reaction was to put aside my dreams and expectations. The diagnosis occupied the whole frame of my mind. I gave a lot of thought to the things I could no longer do. I allowed it to take over. Eventually I understood that I was being selfish, in a certain sense, closing myself to experiences that yet awaited for me, shutting door to the people who loved and cared for me.

I learned to make it through, with God’s grace and now, looking backwards, it is all but a collection of bitter sweet memories. There were dark moments, but there were also breakthroughs.

I will always cherish the moment in which I realized, time was being wasted and that I needed to reestablish contact with family and friends that I needed to allow me to dream and believe in possibilities once more. I started reaching out to people I haven’t seen in a while, visiting those little restaurants I loved, planning trips, going back to that goal of having a family of my own, looking at my new diet restrictions in a positive light- you know there is always a chance to lose a couple of pounds J.

Start setting goals, big and small; Happiness is not as elusive as it seems to be. Sure, no one is promised a perfect life, but with God as our guide, there’s a chance things will be better. Dream big, act swiftly, when your mind is set on an attainable goal, even the pain seems lessened.

On this week in which we celebrate a risen Lord, unpack your long forgotten dreams, and make them spring back to life.

Strawberry Season... Yay!

It is that time of the year, supermarkets are overflowing with delicious red. Over here in Florida we are big on strawberry plantations and these delicious fruit is affordable, readily available and best of all they are very versatile!

If anything positive could be derived off Lupus is that it forced me to take a good look at my nutritional patterns and gave me the opportunity to explore healthy eating, like that share of fruits and veggies, we make a point of avoiding in our daily lives.

Fruits and veggies are full of wonderful nutrients that help us achieve a balanced lifestyle and improve our function.

In the case of strawberries, they work as anti inflammatories. Try it, one cup a day for two months, and I can guarantee, based on experience that those C Reactive protein numbers will start going down!

Strawberries, combined with other fruits will work wonders on your kidneys also. As a patient of Lupus Nephritis, it is hard looking for food and beverages that will sit well with your kidneys. However, a natural smoothie comprised on strawberries, cantaloupe, honey dew and cherries ( along with your immunosuppresants of course) can help to bring those protein counters down.

Strawberries are also great immune boosters, as we tend to lack on that aspect, because of the medications to treat our condition. They also increase HDL, (the good cholesterol).

It's strawberry time, but through the year, we have all kinds of fruits and vegetables that will help us with different aspects of our condition, so enjoy what nature has to give!

It is important though, to always check with your doctor/nutritionist in regards with any food choices, specially when you are starting to introduce them to your diet.

I'll leave you with the recipe for a Strawberry Smoothie that will do good to your kidneys and liver :) (IF YOU HAVE KIDNEY STONES STRAWBERRIES ARE NOT GOOD FOR YOU :( )

1 cup of strawberries

1 cup of honey dew

1/2 cup of cantaloupe

1 cup of cherries

(You can dilute it in 24 onzs green tea, orange juice or water, to your liking)

You can enjoy this three times a day, using an 8onz serving with each of your meals.