To raise money, and more importantly awareness, for Lupus my brother, Amman, James and Sam Duggan, Dom Oddy and Duncan Setterington have decided to cycle from Leeds to London for #LupusUK. The journey begins on 26th July and will run for 3 days. Follow their journey @LeedsToLondon. 

My name is Aaron Boughan and I’ve recently been diagnosed with the disease Lupus SLE. SLE most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions.

Like most of you I had never heard or come across Lupus. It all began for me back in November 2011 where I was initially diagnosed with a simple chest infection. Over the next six weeks I was given 4 different antibiotics which failed to work and my condition continued to deteriorate, so much so I was admitted into hospital on Dec. 27. 

After 2 weeks I was discharged with no diagnosis given. Over the next 3 months, I was admitted a further 2 times to hospital but still no diagnosis. My physical condition continued to deteriorate and I had lost c.3stone in body weight and muscle mass.

Now that brings us to April 2012 where I was admitted yet again to hospital. Finally I was diagnosed with Lupus, which had now started to attack my kidneys (as well as my lungs). It was decided that I’d undergo a kidney biopsy. As a result I suffered an internal bleed from the kidney that sent me to intensive care. I was in intensive care for 4 weeks.

Now, intensive care is a big blur for me, so I’m relaying this part through my family's experience. The first two weeks of ICU I had to be fully sedated but began to attract infections and complications due to Lupus. The doctors had provided me with the most powerful drugs to deter the Lupus but if I didn't respond to the drugs there was nothing else they could do, luckily I responded.

Lupus had now attacked all my major organs and I was given less than 50/50 chance of survival on 3 occasions. I suffered a further setback when the Lupus attacked my heart, immediately a drain was inserted and 2 pints worth of infected fluid was emptied. The consequences of this, my vitals began to improve and I was on my road to recovery...

Being in intensive care for a month resulted in my body becoming that of a 7 year old boy, I had lost the majority of my muscle mass and in total now weigh 65kg, therefore left totally dependent on the nurses. It has been a long hard road but I’m steadily improving but it's definitely a road I don't want to go down again!!!

I hope everyone who reads this will donate towards this cause so in the future other people can be helped and not endure a 2012 like mine!

 

Thanks