Aurinia's ALL IN Lupus Nephritis "Message to Your Kidneys " Campaign. LAM 2019

Raise your hand if you have organ involvement due to lupus?

Yup. Me, too.

Since being diagnosed in 2001, my heart, lungs, kidneys and pancreas have all been compromised because of lupus. Irreversible kidney damage is a constant concern, and my doctor is always keeping an eye on my lupus nephritis (which means kidney involvement). 

That's why I was so excited to be part of Aurinia's ALL IN Lupus Nephritis Initiative during LAM 2019. 

You know those days when you're kidneys aren't cooperating? Sometimes it's after learning a 24-Hour Urine test result, or when signs or symptoms are heightened and you, think, "Oh, boy. Here we go again."

Aurinia has created the ALL IN "Send a Message to Your Kidneys" campaign for that very reason!

Dedicated to creating awareness and providing support for Lupus Nephritis, the website features great personal stories, resources, management tools, and now, a Message Wall for our Kidneys! 

My message above - "Show me what you need, Kidneys. I'm ready to listen" - encapsulates how I feel about my lupus nephritis.  I realized early on that I had a huge role to play in the management of my disease. I needed to sit back, and listen to what my body was telling me. Mid-day rest, extra sleep at night, less stress, less work, more help, different diet, change in medicine - I hadn't been able to hear the cries my body was sending me, until I actually stopped and listened.

So here's hoping you take a few moments  today to just listen to your body, and learn how to meet its needs.

You can even leave a message to your own kidneys on the ALL IN website. Just click here and you'll be able to tell those kidneys of yours how you really feel!