Young woman hoping to bring awareness of lupus
22-year-old Anjeli Surujpaul, founder of the Lupus Foundation Guyana
22-year-old Anjeli Surujpaul, founder of the Lupus Foundation Guyana

HAVING recently being diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), 22-year-old Anjeli Surujpaul is hoping to educate and bring awareness to the Guyanese populace about the complexities of the autoimmune disease. Surujpaul, in a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle, disclosed that she was diagnosed with SLE in January 2020, and having noticed the lack of knowledge of the disease among the general public, she opted to start her own foundation, the Lupus Foundation Guyana, shortly after her diagnosis.
SLE is a disease where one’s immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. There is no cure for lupus, but medical interventions and lifestyle changes can help control it.
“People in Guyana aren’t generally aware of lupus or other autoimmune diseases. I remember this one time I went to the hospital for a checkup and I told the patient care that I have lupus; she looked at me and said ‘What’s that? Is it a real thing?’,” the young woman recalled.

In May 2020, along with several of her friends, Surujpaul officially launched the foundation to spread awareness about the disease that has changed her life.
The young woman told this publication that while the foundation primarily focusses on lupus, it also highlights other autoimmune diseases.
“I had some friends that wanted to help spread awareness to support me and, together, we started the Lupus Foundation of Guyana. Our aim is to spread awareness primarily about lupus but we also focus on other autoimmune diseases. While I create the posters and manage the pages, they’re there to help me whenever I need them,” she said.
However, during the pandemic, Surujpaul noted that not much ground work could be done, nevertheless, through the foundation’s multimedia platforms she has been able to interact with other lupus survivors.

“So far, we haven’t been able to do much activities due to COVID and me being considered high risk. Right now, I mostly give people information and answer their questions. I’m also trying to help a few get to a diagnosis. I’d sometimes have people living with lupus message me and we would end up becoming friends and supporting each other.”
Nevertheless, the young woman expressed her optimism for the growth and expansion of the foundation in the future.
“I hope that in the future, the foundation can become something more and help make life easier for lupus patients. Spreading awareness is a step in the right direction but there is so much more that I want to achieve for people living with lupus and other chronic illness in general.”

LIFE CHANGING
Despite being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Surujpaul related that her life took a complete 180-degree turn. Before her diagnosis, she described herself as an introvert, now she is at her most confident and bravest than at any stage in her life.
“The person I was before my diagnosis was so different from who I am now. She was timid and reserved, would never just walk up to someone, always waited until someone talked to her before she spoke, an introvert basically and would stress about everything.”
The timid, introvert girl is no more, she said, explaining, “I’m so much more now, stronger, outgoing, I would start a conversation with anyone. I spend more time with my family and friends.

And I grasp any and every opportunity that comes my way. I never know what tomorrow will be like, I never know what I’ll wake up to the next day, so whenever I have a good day, I use it.”
With a new perspective on life, the young woman said she takes risks that she would have never taken before she fell ill.
She added that she is now more aware of her health and appreciative of the finer things in life.
“I find joy in the smallest things and don’t dwell too much on the things I can’t control. I’m more alert and conscious about what I put into my body as well. Some days I would wake up and I’d have to spend hours in my bed due to pain and some days when I wake up, I’m full of energy and ready for the day. Lupus is so unpredictable, the most I can do is make the best of my good days,” she said, adding: “I’ve also taken up modelling which is something that I could’ve never seen myself doing before. I’m so much more confident now and if I can fight lupus every day, then I can do anything.”

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