Where has the time gone? A year ago I lay in my bed after having had major surgery on my leg. I was ordered there by my surgeon. I itched to get up and go outside. I occupied my time with television and the Internet. As a member of a lupus support group (not mine), I began to wonder: What can I do to help fight lupus? Then it came to me, I can effect change even from my bed using the Internet.
I decided to raise and spread awareness of lupus by telling my story. I started a blog, Lola VS Lupus (LVL), and I wrote about lupus and the things that were happening in my life and it was cathartic. I posted links on Facebook and began to receive messages from others affected by lupus. I couldn’t believe how many people were just like me.
Responding to the same questions over and over was exhausting, so I decided to create the Lola VS Lupus Page. I built it and they came. In a month I had over a thousand people who “liked” my page. It was great that people with lupus from all over the country were talking about the disease.
During the time the page was taking off, some people asked if I could create a safe place where a people could chat privately. I had to do something, but this was beyond what I was familiar with or had done before and I was riding by the seat of my pants. I remembered the other lupus support group and how it was private and I went for it. That’s when the Lola VS Lupus Group was created.
I admit the beginning was rough. Suddenly, I had 200 to 300 people in the group. I started to think I’d gotten in over my head but I didn’t want to let anyone down. I created rules and regulations and took control of the group. At 400 members, I realized I needed help running it. I asked group members to help and be administrators of the group. Thank goodness they said yes.
I’m happy that LVL has helped people, but I want to do more. I have grand ideas for Lola VS Lupus. I can’t wait to effect even more change.
Mission Accomplished: LVL Thriving, Continuing to Effect Change
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