From Pain to Power – A Lupus Journey of Hope

In our second episode, Naomi chats with Julie Norris, who lives in rural Victoria and whose life has been profoundly shaped by resilience, compassion and advocacy. Living with lupus for more than 34 years, she has navigated the daily challenges of a chronic illness while raising her son as a single parent. Julie shares her challenging diagnosis journey and emphasizes the importance of self-efficacy, symptom tracking, and why understanding your blood tests can help make your treatment journey smoother. She also highlights how a new immunotherapy treatment has significantly improved her quality of life. Julie goes on to discuss her memoir, Shattered Silence: Reclaiming My Voice, which documents her lived experience and advocacy for better patient empowerment and communication among healthcare providers. Julie’s story is one of survival and renewal, and she continues to use her voice to empower others, reminding them that they are not alone and that together, communities can create lasting change. Meet the Team Host: Naomi Creek, National Coordinator at CreakyJoints Australia. A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF. This fourth season of Patient PrepRheum is produced by the non-profit Global Healthy Living Foundation, its arthritis patient community CreakyJoints Australia, and made possible with support from AstraZeneca. For more information, visit the CreakyJoints Australia website at creakyjoints.org.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.