The butterfly is also the universal symbol for Lupus, an incurable autoimmune genetic disease. Lupus has never skipped a generation on my mothers side of the family, including myself. By making my natural soaps, salts and such, I can also bring awareness for Lupus Research. For the whole story read on:
Systemic Lupus...it has never skipped a generation on my mother's side of the family. All of us
girls have it, some chose to deny it despite either the symptoms or test results. I think it is due to watching what has happened to the "others", when those beautiful butterflies left us. I have Systemic Lupus and was diagnosed in 1987, a year after my son was born. I knew at an early age that I had it, but the test at the time was an LE Prep Test. Doctors have since concluded that the test was useless and was not accurate. So as a child I suffered daily, in school, and at home. It was not unusual for me to be so exhausted after school that I would crash on the couch for 2 hours with a migraine. Anyway, after I was diagnosed my life changed. I was told 10-15 years given my family history and the level of my Lupus involvement. I began to make small goals in life; to see my son go to Kindergarten, as that goal passed I made another. They became, high school graduation, college, and getting married. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever make the goal to see a grandchild, I just knew that it wasn't going to happen. I am a very positive thinking person, but also a realist. On November 17th of 2012 the most wonderful baby girl was born. Savannah Jade, our "Sweet Angel" of a grand daughter. I must say that when my son came to me in the hospital waiting room and announced "It's a girl!", I was so excited and emotional. He then motioned for me to follow him. As we rounded the corner and I saw the door labeled "Recovery", my heart flooded with emotions of all sorts. As the door opened and I saw the "Sweet Angel" laying there with her mother, I almost fell to my knees. I don't think I have ever sobbed so hard in my life. My son walked me to the rocking chair and handed her to me. It was the most amazing day ever. So now I find myself still living with my Lupus and yes it is advancing, but everyday I am making those small goals again. I will be 50 this coming April of 2015, I have out lived that 10-15 year mark. My Lupus has also attacked many parts of my body, such as my Heart, kidneys, lungs, CNS, Spleen, and all of those "little" nuisance happenings that go with it. I know that I am slowing down by the day. My husband and family see it more than I choose to. In 2011 I started a cottage industry that is growing, making all natural soaps, bath and facial products. I had to carefully choose a name for it needed to have a purpose. The name came one day, Lycaena Naturals because a Lycaena (Ly-SEE-na) is a brilliantly colored butterfly, which happens to also be the symbol for Lupus. There is a shop in my basement and when I am down there creating, I am the most calm. Everyone worries that I am doing too much, I do pace myself. I hand out free information on Lupus when doing vendor shows. Educating people about it, giving them ways to cope if they are a patient or helping a significant other to understand. I live everyday for the day that it is. If I woke up this morning...well then it's a good day. On the days, which is most, that I'm in pain or not feeling well I just put that smile on and go about my day. Listening to music always make me feel better and on the really bad days, it seems the louder the music the better I feel. I live by a saying that Mavis Levrer wrote, "Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting “Holy s**t, what a ride!”. I am a beautiful Lycaena and I fly everyday that I wake up.
