On February 7, 2016, our dear Pia had a severe stroke. Recovering from a stroke is never easy, combined with lupus, is even more difficult. Many didn’t realize Pia struggled with lupus because she didn’t look sick. Like most autoimmune diseases, you cannot tell if a person is sick and makes it hard for friends and family to understand this disease. Pia was diagnosed with Lupus when she was 10 years old. Back then, it was even more complicated to diagnose. Before receiving her diagnosis, she endured fatigue, swollen joint pain, headaches, and rashes, all common symptoms of lupus. Because of this, she missed school, family functions, and the usual teenage social activities.
It has not been a walk in the park, over the years Pia lives with taking various medications, arthritis and experiences the occasional flare ups. There is no cure for lupus but with proper treatment and a healthy way of life, Pia’s been able to live an active and productive lifestyle…..until February 7, 2016.
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Pia was in the hospital for two weeks and because the doctors still don’t know much about lupus, it was difficult for them to treat her properly, there was not much they could do and it wasn’t looking good. Her amazing family was able to spring into action quickly and got her transferred to one of the best hospitals where they were able to treat her more proficiently. Over the next few weeks, a good day would be followed by bad days with lupus to blame. Eventually, an infection took hold of Pia and she lost her brave battle April 5, 2016.
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Pia is loved by many and losing her has been difficult for all of us. This bracelet will help you find peace and and balance, whether you wear it everyday or if just for a keepsake.