Meet Erin.
"I was the sporty girl in school and from the outside everyone thought I had it all together. In honours I started feeling symptoms. After exams everything just hit all at once. For 3 months GP's were all telling me it was anxiety and I began to feel frustrated and unheard. My ankle had developed pink spots all over and I had a terrible bruise on the side of my foot.
We went to Sun City and I put my feet in the pool, my one foot turned black instantly. I now realise that this was cut off circulation. Done. We went to the doctor and I was diagnosed with Lupus. I remember feeling relieved after receiving a diagnosis.
We did operations to try save the leg but the conclusion was I could keep a dead foot or do the amputation.
The plan going forward is the New York Marathon in 2024 to challenge myself athletically. I don't want to be a victim, I know I have been through a lot but if I'm good enough, the Paralympics would be the best thing ever. I look at my scars and they tell my story and my journey. Someone told me, you set the tone and this is what I live by." - @erin_lazarus