Lusiana Tells of Journey When Diagnosed with Lupus
Lusiana Ratu’s story is one of resilience and faith. She was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) five months after giving birth to her third child in January 2013.
Ms Ratu told her story of how she overcame lupus during the International Lupus Day in Suva on Wednesday.
Despite the doctor’s warning that there was no cure for the autoimmune disease, Ms Ratu remained positive and focused. She tried to remain strong, but the disease made her weak.
Despite her diagnosis, she tried to remain hopeful.
“My journey begins in December 2012, five months after giving birth to my third child. I had fallen ill and was admitted at CWM Hospital where I spent a month, I experienced loss of appetite, high fever, cold sweats, joints and body pains, being bathed by my mum on my hospital bed as I was too weak, continuous vomiting and loss of hair,” Ms Ratu said.
“My doctor then was Dr Rao. They ran many tests to determine what was really wrong with me and I was diagnosed with suspected SLE in January 2013.
“He clearly told me no more children, watch your diet, stick to your medication and pray because only God can heal you. March 4, 2013
I tested positive for SLE and my heart broke. I was confused, lost and thinking how long I have left and tried to remain positive and focused.”
Two years after her diagnosis, Ms Ratu became pregnant which was the first not to do advice on Dr
Rao’s list.
“I was pregnant with twins,” she said.
The doctor gave her the option to terminate the pregnancy to avoid the risk of losing the twins and herself during the pregnancy but Ms Ratu put her faith and trust in God, who she believed was in control of her health.
After the twins were born, Lupus continued to affect her, and in August 2016, she was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney failure.
She was advised to spend as much time as possible with her loved ones, as her condition was critical. However, her faith carried her through the dark and depressing moments. After a week in the hospital, her doctors were surprised and confused when her tests showed that her kidneys were fine. On May 5, 2023, Ms Ratu received the news that she was lupus-free, and she credited her faith in God and the support of her family and friends for helping her overcome the disease.
Ms Ratu’s story is a testament to the power of faith and the strength of the human spirit.
Despite facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, she never lost hope and remained positive throughout her journey.