Your Story Our Fight by Lupus LA

Season TWO Episode TWENTY-FOUR of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Emmitt Henderson III. Emmitt Henderson III was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus and Lupus Nephritis in 1995 but had symptoms going back to 1980. Through the years, he has endured major complications from heart, liver, kidney and lung failures, avascular necrosis that led to a shoulder and knee replacement. He had a clinical trial, bone marrow stem cell transplant; he was on oxygen due to his lung failure and had a kidney transplant due to kidney failure. He was also diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogrens Syndrome, MTCD as well as he suffered from having a stroke, shingles, gout, chronic fevers, diabetes and hypertension. In 2019, Emmitt was diagnosed with a brain disease, that medically retired him from his career. He decided to advocate for the same disease that debilitated him since 1995 and to talk about how his mental health got him through it all. He created his organization called Male Lupus Warriors Corp to spread Lupus and Mental Health awareness. He holds a safe space for men to meet and talk about their hardships in life, he encourages everyone to not be a victim to their illness. Emmitt did an advocacy campaign in Tanzania Africa in 2022 which included climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. During his climb, he suffered high altitude pulmonary edema and ended up going into kidney failure for the second time in his life. He is now currently doing dialysis and on the transplant list for another kidney. During this time, he still maintains his advocacy by being active on social media and facilitating support groups.

Episode FOURTEEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Liz Morasso, a lupus patient and clinical social worker.

Season TWO Episode TWENTY of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Stacey Uberstine. Stacey graduated from California State University Northridge in 1990 with a bachelor of science degree in Health Administration with a computer science minor. One of her most notable jobs was helping to establish the Industrial Care Center which is operational at San Pedro Hospital. In 1993 Stacey transitioned into the insurance industry where she owned and operated her own State farm Agency for over a decade. Stacey was diagnosed with lupus in 1994. She stays abreast of the disease and all related medical breakthroughs and advances in research. Stacey has been an active donor and Board member of Lupus LA. She has a passion for patient advocacy within the lupus and breast cancer communities. Stacey is an avid sports fan, and actually met her husband through her work at State Farm. Sports seems to be a family affair, as her husband is a prominent sports attorney who has represented some of the most iconic figures in professional sports. Her passion for sports was passed on to her twin boys, Grant and Tyler. Grant was an avid athlete in high school, participating in lacrosse, baseball and swimming. Tyler’s passion for baseball took him to Northwestern University, where he earned a spot in the team’s starting rotation. He was later drafted by the Boston Red Sox. Stacey resides in Manhattan Beach, where she can be seen taking strolls along the beach. She is an avid reader and spends a considerable amount of time supporting philanthropic causes close to her heart related to lupus and breast cancer.

Season THREE Episode FIFTEEN of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Shanelle Gabriel. Shanelle Gabriel is a spoken word poet, singer, education consultant, and lupus warrior from Brooklyn, NY. She has shared her fusion of poetry and soulful singing in esteemed venues from The Vatican to Lincoln Center, and has penned and featured in national poetry campaigns with Pandora Music, NFL Draft, and more. With over 18 years as an educator, she uses the arts to facilitate workshops on creating culturally supportive work and learning spaces. She is the mother of three albums, which are available on all streaming platforms, and aims to show others they can live a full life while battling a chronic illness.

Season TWO Episode EIGHT of the Your Story Our Fight® podcast welcomes Lauren Shuler Donner. Lauren Shuler Donner has produced many films, including Pretty in Pink, Free Willy, St Elmo’s Fire, Dave, You’ve Got Mail, Secret Life of Bees, and nine X-men movies. She was also an Executive Producer on another seven films and five tv shows including “Legion." Lauren has been honored with a star on Hollywood Blvd. and has received her honorary Doctorate from Boston University.