I’m Katrina, I’m 25 years old and I was diagnosed with lupus at 9. Since then, it has been an uphill battle physically and mentally. I’ve had to think creatively about accessing education, working and even achieving mundane things, a struggle I’m sure many people with long term illnesses understand. On my journey, there have been many ups and downs, but my mum has always played a supportive role, and I know for a lot of people, the support around you can make a big difference. Working as an advocate and meeting other young people just like me inspired me to find a way to share the knowledge I’ve gained and provide the support I wish I had when I was 9.
At the end of last year, my mum and I started our own community interest company called Katty’s Territory Empower & Support. Our aim is to use our lived experiences to help other young people and their carers navigate the difficult journey of having a long-term illness. Managing my lupus from childhood through to adulthood as well as my mental health struggles are all experiences I want to share to provide insight into a daunting challenge. My mum’s experiences of being a full-time social worker then becoming a full-time carer, provides insight from both sides of tackling the challenges that come along with accessing support and guidance.
We want to be able to offer young people with long-term illnesses and their carers tips and advice from the experiences we’ve gained over the past 16 years. We've developed 2 guides: one about managing a long-term illness and another about being an effective carer. Currently, we are working alongside some local organisations to share our story and raise awareness for lupus and the challenges that come along with it. Our ambition is to develop an empowered and informed community sharing our lived experiences, and to continue to grow and share our stories.
We want to continue to share our progress with Lupus UK, if you would like to find out more, please visit our website www.KattysTerritory.com.
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