From one warrior to another

Hi everyone, before we really get into things on here I thought it would be best to introduce myself as more than just founder of Cloud Cosmetics. I have created Silver Lining to run along side my auto immune disease friendly beauty brand to provide a safe platform for people to turn to wether they are going through tough times with a diagnosis, are confused with what is happening or just need a little bit of friendly advice.

Cloud Cosmetics is really personal to me as I have been suffering with Lupus since the age of 17. I have seen the struggles that people face first hand and I remember feeling like there was no support out there for me. There was no one to talk to apart from my doctor who wasn't phased by the fact that my hair was falling out or that I could no longer dance which I had been doing five days a week for the last 15 years. I first noticed that something was wrong from probably the age of 13 but I was in denial as was my family. The doctors labelled me as 'just weak' and border line anaemic and sent me away time and time again. I must of had about 7 blood tests a year at that point wondering why I was ill every other week and just constantly exhausted. It wasn't until I was referred to a rheumatologist that the ball really got rolling. I was 16 and it was around the time that Selena Gomez cancelled her tour because of her struggles with Lupus, I had read about it as me and my best friend had tickets as a present after out GCSES so was understandably disappointed at the news, especially as we had never hear of Lupus before. When my doctor said he was testing me for Lupus even though he was 99% sure that I didn't have it (his words not mine) I was convinced it was a waste of time (and blood haha) and to be quite honest I remember the car journey home from the hospital with my Mum saying 'there's no way on earth you have that, we would know' like it was yesterday. A few weeks later and we all sat in shock as the doctor told me that I did in fact have it and it was a rare kind, making it very hard to diagnose. Fast forward four years, here I am, hoping that I can help take that helpless feeling away from people as they come to terms with what is happening to their body. Let's just put it this way, I might have a quarter of my hair left, I might feel sick all the time because of the medication and I might not be able to do everything that I want to do every day but I am happy and focus on being grateful for all the things Lupus hasn't taken from me instead of being fixated on what it has.

The last four years have really shown me how forgotten the auto immune disease community are within society and if I can make anyone feel slightly better about diagnosis, or be a friendly face to talk to about the problems they face then I will be happy. Silver Lining is a place for people to come to read tips and tricks to get by and get over the bumps in the road, for people to recommend or find new products or medication which have helped them and for people to just form a support bubble providing all the digital hugs in the world.

So from one warrior to another, things will get better xo