Walnut Grove Teen Becomes an Advocate for Lupus Awareness

McKayla a 16-year-old student from Walnut Grove High School, has not let her Lupus diagnosis get her down. In fact, she has done just the opposite, using it as a way to inspire others.

“I feel like I was kind of called,” the self- assured teenager said. “There has to be a reason for me to get Lupus, so I’ve been using it to reach out to teenage girls, sometimes girls who don’t have anything wrong with them. Living with Lupus can be really hard, but if I can do it, then anyone can overcome obstacles. People really can do anything they want to if they put their mind to it.”

McKayla’s mother,  Amy Futral, said McKayla plays down just how debilitating her Lupus is, going out of her way to not let on how tough it can be.

“Lupus can range from mild to severe cases,” Futral said, adding that McKayla’s is not a mild case. “She was in the hospital recently for three days with uncontrollable seizures. She used to get upset by the symptoms, but during the last couple of years she has said ‘God must have meant for me to do something with it.’”

The Mayo Clinic website gives the following definition of Lupus.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other ailments. The most distinctive sign of lupus — a facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly unfolding across both cheeks — occurs in many but not all cases of lupus.

Some people are born with a tendency toward developing lupus, which may be triggered by infections, certain drugs or even sunlight. While there's no cure for lupus, treatments can help control symptoms.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other ailments. The most distinctive sign of lupus — a facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly unfolding across both cheeks — occurs in many but not all cases of lupus.

Some people are born with a tendency toward developing lupus, which may be triggered by infections, certain drugs or even sunlight. While there's no cure for lupus, treatments can help control symptoms. 

Futral said they realized something was wrong with McKayla when she was about 10, and they went from specialist to specialist before she was finally diagnosed with Lupus. By that time she was already 14.

“There are so many kids that are undiagnosed and parents just think they’re lazy,” Futral said. “We are hoping that by getting the word out more people will realize what they may be dealing with.”

Since there is no cure for it, McKayla said she has found the best ways to control the symptoms in order for her deal with it in her daily life.

“I’ve learned I just have to push through and that if I don’t do anything to help my joints, it makes it harder,” McKayla said, adding that working out almost daily and eating healthy food helps her deal with the disease. She also takes heart in the fact that her advocacy is helping others.

“I recently went to the Capitol to meet the governor and feel like I was kind of called to be an advocate,” she said. “I am trying to raise money to help find a cure for it. There are more people with Lupus than with Leukemia.”

McKayla has turned to beauty pageants as a way to help raise awareness, recently competing in GA Teen and coming in the top 15. She also is an advocate for the Lupus Foundation of Georgia and will be participating in a walk to raise awareness at Piedmont Park on April 27. At the moment McKayla is in the Top 10 fundraisers in Georgia and is looking to raise more.

To find out more about Lupus, go to McKayla’s blog - and to help her in her fundraising efforts, you can go to the fundraising website.