Adrian ‘Ace’ Harris

Happy Wednesday, Golden Divas & Divos!

Let’s start this post off with a couple of my favorite scriptures. Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Phillippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

There are so many translations of this last scripture; however, I love to sum it up, “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”

I have always loved a great backstory; it is the premise of my life, what makes me tick, and why I am the person I am today. Resilient women who live by the scriptures I presented are dearest to my heart.

Life is challenging, and the struggle can be real. However, knowing that you have God’s favor (Spiritual Nepotism), you should never worry. Keep your undying faith, and know that He got you!

When I meet someone, I love hearing about their life journey. This brings me to Club Fifty’s next guest.  I met this young Diva when I went for my eye examination a few months ago; her personality was tenacious. During my visit, she shared with me that she had lupus. I’ve known a few people who had this disease, but I never talked to them about it.

She was open about her health issues and willing to share her journey after I asked her how she was doing. One of my favorite sayings is, “I don’t look like what I’ve been through,” I can say the same about this beauty.

Please help me welcome Adriane, ‘Ace’ Harris, and the ‘LUPUS WARRIOR’ to Club Fifty.  

MEET ADRIANE ‘ACE’ HARRIS 

Adriane Shanell Harris(ACE) is 34 years old. She is an Optician/Optical Supervisor. Although she has no biological children, she is the Godmother of six and the pet mom of her beautiful dog, Honey Marie Harris. 

Adriane is an aunt of eleven nieces and nephews. She is a Baptist Christian, and her hobbies include Bowling, Reading, Writing, Listening to music, and Playing Phase 10, Uno, and Spades.

IN CONVERSATION WITH ADRIANE HARRIS

C50: Adriane, can you tell us what lupus is, its symptoms, and what causes it?

AH: Lupus is a chronic (long-term) disease that can cause inflammation and Pain in any part of your body. It’s an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system — the body system that usually fights infections — attacks healthy tissue instead. Lupus can commonly affect your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.

No one knows what causes Lupus — but Lupus and other autoimmune diseases do run in families. Experts also think it may develop in response to certain hormones (like estrogen) or environmental triggers. An environmental trigger is something outside the body that can bring on symptoms of Lupus — or make them worse or cause flare-ups such as STRESS!

The most common symptoms include Skin rashes, Pain or swelling in the joints (arthritis), Swelling in the feet and around the eyes (typically due to how Lupus affects the kidney), Extreme fatigue (feeling very tired all the time), and low fevers. The way Lupus happens and the symptoms it causes can vary a lot from person to person.

C50: What are the types of Lupus?

AH: When people talk about Lupus, they usually talk about systemic Lupus. But there are four kinds of Lupus: 

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of Lupus
• Cutaneous Lupus, a form of Lupus that is limited to the skin
• Drug-induced Lupus, a lupus-like disease caused by certain prescription drugs
• Neonatal Lupus, a rare condition that affects infants of women who have Lupus

C50: How old were you when you were diagnosed with Lupus?

AH: I was diagnosed with SLE(Systemic Lupus erythematosus) in 2014 at the age of 24. It was pretty hard to know the symptoms of Lupus. Lupus shares symptoms with other diseases, making it difficult to diagnose.

C50: How has Lupus affected your mobility?

AH: Lupus has significantly impacted my daily life in many ways, including Pain, fatigue, social activities, relationships, work, and, most importantly, family. It has affected my life, but I will never let it stop me from living my life to the fullest.

C50: What races tend to get Lupus?

AH: Anyone can get Lupus, but some people are at higher risk. This includes women ages 15 to 44, people from certain racial or ethnic groups — including Black or African American people, Hispanic/Latino people, American Indian/Alaska Native people, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders, and people who have a family member with Lupus or other autoimmune diseases. 

C50: When is Lupus Awareness Month?

AH: May is Lupus awareness.

C50: What is the color and symbol of Lupus?

AH: Lupus’s color is purple, and the butterfly is the symbol. The butterfly is a hopeful symbol that can help raise awareness, educate the public, and encourage research. The butterfly is also used in The Butterfly Project, a tool that allows rheumatologists to monitor their lupus patients’ health over time. 

C50: What are some things you do during awareness month to make people more aware of the disease?

AH: During May, to show support and awareness for myself and other Lupus Warriors who are still fighting and or have passed on, I wear Purple every month. I also post different facts about Lupus every day. Back in 2019, I started having awareness night where everyone put on something purple in honor of me and my fight, and we went out and did things that I loved to do, such as Bowling, Dinners, and just gathering with family and friends while being in the color purple. I also display different purple pictures and quotes about Lupus.

C50: Adriane is a lupus, considered a disability.

AH: Lupus can be considered a disability under U.S. law if it meets specific criteria.

You must provide medical evidence that your Lupus prevents you from doing your previous work or adjusting to others. 

• Impairment: Your Lupus must significantly limit your ability to perform basic work activities such as walking, sitting, seeing, and remembering. 
• Duration: Your condition must be expected to last at least a year. 
• Symptoms: You must have at least two constitutional symptoms or signs: severe fatigue, fever, malaise, or involuntary weight loss. 
• Organ involvement: You must be involved in one of the major organs or body systems, such as the respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, or skin systems. 

C50: Is Lupus a long-term, autoimmune disease, and is it hereditary?

AH: Yes, Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can last a lifetime: 

• Autoimmune disease: Lupus occurs when the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue. 
• Chronic: Lupus is a long-term disease that doesn’t go away. 
• Hereditary: While Lupus isn’t hereditary because it’s not inherited directly from a parent, genetics play a role in its development. People may inherit a gene variation that increases their risk of developing Lupus, but many people without it won’t develop the disease. 
• Environmental triggers: Environmental factors, such as exposure to sunlight or certain medications, can trigger lupus in people predisposed to it. 

C50: What organ does Lupus affect the most?

AH: Lupus can affect many organs, but the kidneys are the most studied and are often the most seriously damaged. Lupus can cause severe kidney damage, and kidney failure is one of the leading causes of death among people with Lupus.

• Kidneys: Lupus can cause severe kidney inflammation, blood or protein in the urine, high blood pressure, and leg swelling. 
• The Brain and Central Nervous System: Lupus can affect the brain and spinal cord, leading to headaches, dizziness, vision problems, memory issues, and difficulty expressing thoughts.  
• Lungs: Lupus can cause inflammation of the chest cavity lining, resulting in painful breathing.  Other lung problems may include bleeding into the lungs and pneumonia.  
• Heart: Lupus can cause inflammation of the heart muscle, arteries, or membrane, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.  
• Skin: Most people with lupus experience some sort of skin involvement, including various skin conditions, hair loss, and open sores.  
• Blood: Lupus can lead to blood problems such as anemia, an increased risk of bleeding, and an increased risk of blood clotting.  
• Other Affected Areas: Lupus can also affect the joints, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs. 

C50: Are there any programs that help people diagnosed with Lupus?

AH: Several programs can help people with Lupus, including The Lupus Initiative, HSS, and Lupus Research Alliance. Also, I am a part of two programs of the Lupus Foundation of America, a non-profit organization that offers support groups, educational programs, and advocacy. They also have a Patient Assistance Fund called the PAN Foundation that provides financial assistance to pay for prescriptions and treatments.

C50: Does Lupus get worse with age? What are some triggers of Lupus?

AH: Lupus is a lifelong condition that can flare up unpredictably. While treatment can help manage symptoms, flare-ups can occur even while receiving treatment. Some of the triggers may include:

• Stress: Emotional stress, such as from a divorce, illness, or death in the family 
• Infections: Such as the Epstein-Barr Virus 
• Exposure to toxins: Such as cigarette smoke or air pollution 
• Hormones: Reactions to certain hormones in your body, especially estrogen 
• Sunlight: Exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) rays 
• Injuries: Particularly traumatic injuries 
• Other health conditions: Having other autoimmune diseases

Bonus Question

C50: Adriane, please share some encouraging words for someone living with Lupus.

AH: “No matter your future goals, don’t let Lupus stop you! Your life doesn’t have to be less cool, interesting, or fun now that you have Lupus. You can still have a fabulous and exciting life and do everything you want.”

C50: There you have it, Golden Divas & Divos, this Lupus Warrior is living her ‘BEST LIFE!’

This post is for informational purposes only.