Painful Christmas for mother with lupus

For almost a month, the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) has become Rochelle Wilson's new home.

The impromptu migration from her Yallahs, St Thomas, dwelling was as a result of her recent diagnosis with lupus. The news of her sudden ill health left her foregoing on two of the most important celebrations with her family - Christmas dinner and ringing in the new year.

"We [her family] planned to go to the fireworks [show], that's our tradition. But I have been in the hospital in pain," the single mother of four related. Wilson, 35, shared from her sick bed that her daily routine was disrupted one day in December by excruciating pain in her joints all over her body. A nudge from her aunt convinced her to visit the Morant Bay Health Centre, where she did blood tests.

Wilson said that the first blood test returned negative results, hinting that her liver and kidney functions were normal. However, the pain she felt still persisted.

"They wanted to know more, what was causing the swelling and the pain and they sent me to do another blood test and they found out that it's lupus. So, I got a referral to go to the lupus clinic at KPH and I was told by a doctor that it doesn't open until Monday [January 8]. But the pain was still there so I got admitted to the hospital last Tuesday [Boxing Day, December 26]," the woman said. Wilson is usually the one who cooks for her family but she was not able to enjoy the feast this year - curry goat -because she was feeling extremely nauseous and was not able to keep anything digested. Though she spent Christmas Day at home, she did not enjoy it as she was in too much pain.

She noted that although she did her research about the symptoms she felt, she still found the results frightening.

"I would say I kind of prepared myself but I have to stay strong for myself and my children. They are my motivation," Wilson told THE STAR, the pain evident in her voice. Wilson's children are 18, 14, four and two. What is even more heartbreaking for Wilson is that her children are unable to visit her. Although she talks to them a lot on the phone, they are crying for her to come home.

She indicated that she is seeking to raise funds to finance receiving healthcare. She was unable to give a specific amount, saying that the doctors do not yet know what type of lupus she has, so they want to make that determination first. That will then give her an idea of how much is needed for her treatment. For now, she wants to do the blood tests and to start getting money together until the complete diagnosis is given.

"I have a lot of blood tests to do but I am hopeful that I will go home soon. I stay strong because of my children," she said.

Those willing to contribute to Rochelle Wilson's healthcare can contact her at 876-869-9944 or make a donation at Jamaica National Bank, Morant Bay branch, account number: 10936008