Now 41, Stacey Kozel was diagnosed with lupus when she was 19 years old. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body. The symptoms for Stacey, as for some other Lupus patients, has been cyclical, every couple of years she would have a “flare-up”.
The disease directly attacked her central nervous system during each flare-up, causing her to lose muscle function. In March 2014 she lost all mobility, couldn’t sit up or lift her head. With determination, she slowly recovered control of both arms and her upper body, but her legs were paralyzed. Her mobility depended upon her electric wheelchair.
