About Us
Our Mission
Our Mission is to inspire hope to improve the quality of life for those living with multiple chronic illnesses, multiple disabilities such as lupus.
Our Vision
Empowering communities. And ending health disparities.
Our Founder
SUSAN LYNNE HENDRIX, BS, BA, MHA, PH.D.
Susan is the fifth child born to Charlie and Minnie Hendrix, she was educated in the Highland Park, Michigan school district before furthering her education in the field of health and science, Susan childhood was unique. Susan would always mimic what she had seen her parents and siblings do, but as a child Charlie and Minnie found themselves taking her back and forth to specialists trying to discover what was going on with her health.
Susan could not play outside like the other children, if she did go outside her parents noticed that when she returned inside the home her face and arms would be covered with a rash which they thought was from the excessive heat. But Susan would tell her parents that her body would hurt or that she did not feel good at all. At the age of five years old Susan’s mother found an excessive amount of hair on her pillowcase and brush, Charlie and Minnie immediately took her to a dermatologist and the physician at that time could not answer any of their questions.
Little did her parents know that Susan was exhibiting the first signs of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus), but the doctors in (1960’s) Michigan were not well advanced in the symptoms and signs of this chronic illness which would eventually take control over Susan body. Charlie and Minnie found themselves taking Susan to Nashville, Tennessee to seek medical care from some of the best hospitals.
As time went on Susan symptoms went into remission until late 2000, by this time Susan was helping the family take care of their mother Minnie who was in the last stages of her life, Susan did not let her siblings know what was going on, her doctor at the time informed Susan that she was required to bring in a family member on her next appointment to discuss her health issues which had become at this point and time very serious.
Susan would not bring in a family member based on her feeling that she did not want to add further pressure to the family, she would eventually wait until her mothers’ passing to open up to the family about her health issues. Susan finally went into the doctor’s office with her eldest sister Delores. The doctor explained to Delores that your sister is very ill, and the doctor further explained to Delores the many diagnoses that Susan had received due to Lupus.
Susan had taken so many bumps with this illness from heart attacks, numerous operations, strokes, and hospital admissions, discrimination within the healthcare field. Doctors telling her that it was nothing else they could do for her, to stating it was all in her head. There have been numerous doctors to tell Susan her only chance to live is to take chemotherapy which Susan refused to take. Susan never asked anyone to have pity for her, but what she did expect and demanded from the healthcare field which she worked in for 30 plus years was respect as a patient, and answers to questions she was asked regarding her health.
Lupus has never stopped Susan from continuing her advocacy endeavors and bringing forth awareness for those who are suffering from the same illness as she, and for those that she has seen being mistreated. Susan states that ” Her college degrees are a social contract, it is her duty to extend a helping hand to others that are being mistreated, discriminated against based on not having the right insurance or the right zip code, she further states, if she is not doing what she was taught by her parents and siblings, then everything would be in vain it is up to us to be our sisters/brothers keeper, to be a voice for those who are afraid to speak up, to be that voice to tell their story, to be that voice of change to help and to educate others that’s what its all about”.
Susan formed this non-profit in honor of her parents and their philanthropic endeavors of helping others, the lost, forgotten and misunderstood. You can listen in depth to Susan’s journey with lupus, and her professional accomplishments on her podcast Susan Hendrix My Story Living With Lupus.
