Meet Jocelyn K.
“Awareness is important because there are so many different autoimmune diseases, but it really is all under one umbrella. The category is one that is not widely understood, doesn’t have a lot of answers and has a huge amount of people who belong to it. If we raise awareness, we can hopefully find solutions for all autoimmune diseases.”
What has been your biggest challenge on your autoimmune journey?
My biggest challenge has been not knowing how I’m going to feel from one moment to the next. It’s so unpredictable. One day you could be fine and the next, you could be in really bad shape.
What has been instrumental in helping you navigate and adapt to living with autoimmune disease(s)?
I’d have to say that having a support system and having good doctors has been key.
What advice would you give someone who is struggling with an autoimmune disease(s)?
I would tell people that as hard as it is, don’t give up. Many autoimmune diseases are invisible and that makes it extremely frustrating and isolating.
Why is it important for those who are living with a specific autoimmune condition to join together and raise awareness about autoimmune diseases as a category?
I believe it’s important because there are so many different autoimmune diseases, but it really is all under one umbrella. The category is one that is not widely understood, doesn’t have a lot of answers and has a huge amount of people who belong to it. If we raise awareness, we can hopefully find solutions for all autoimmune diseases.
Looking for more information?
Many of our partner organizations specialize in support for specific autoimmune diseases and have additional resources, research and care-management information available.