Lupus survivor turns personal battle into advocacy

Fifty-one-year-old Rani Jacinta Hassan, a mother of six and grandmother of two, is using her personal battle with lupus to raise awareness and support others living with the invisible illness after surviving years of misdiagnosis, seizures and strokes.

Speaking during International Lupus Day today, Ms Hassan, who is a patient coordinator and board member of Lupus Foundation Fiji, said she first experienced symptoms in 2016.

The symptoms included severe rashes and skin issues. Doctors initially attributed them to allergies or infections before she was officially diagnosed with lupus in 2019.

“I was told without empathy that I had this illness and I would die from it,” she said.

Ms Hassan said she suffers from lupus cerebritis, a form of lupus that affects the brain. In 2023, she experienced multiple seizures and strokes, with doctors warning that she might not survive.

Despite the challenges, she recovered with the support of her family and faith, which inspired her to become a voice for lupus patients in Fiji.

“That gave me renewed energy to fight for lupus, to make it visible,” she said.

She has since established a lupus warriors support group that organises counselling programmes, fundraising activities and awareness campaigns.

Ms Hassan said stigma remains one of the biggest challenges, with many patients afraid to speak openly about their illness due to family and cultural pressures.

She urged lupus patients to continue taking medication, attend regular clinic appointments and prioritise their health, while also calling on families to better support loved ones living with chronic illness.

“Every day is not a good day, but every day is not a bad day either,” she said.