How I Cope With An Autoimmune Disease feat. Janine Kwok of AUTO
On the seventh episode of season two of The Sarah Show, Sarah Chew talks with Janine Kwok, founder of the brand AUTO, about her experience living with autoimmune diseases.
Janine was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and Hashimoto's disease when she was only 15 years old — making her life in high school very difficult. Chronic illness symptoms can come and go, so Janine describes how she'd need a wheelchair one week but be fine to walk the next. She discusses her triggers, her medications, and her methods to de-stress to try and improve her symptoms.
After not talking about her autoimmunity to people for many years, Janine decided to open up to trusted friends —and it made a world of difference. Now she empowers other people living with autoimmune conditions to share their stories and create community through her brand, AUTO.
AUTO currently sells merchandise (which you can buy here: https://autothelabel.com/ ) but as Janine talks about in this episode, the brand will be doing so much more in the near future.
Janine's links:
https://www.instagram.com/janinechristine21/
https://www.instagram.com/autothelabel/
Links to foundations that support autoimmunity communities:
https://lupuscanada.org/get-involved/ways-to-donate/
https://mssociety.donorportal.ca/Donation/Donation.aspx?F=1673&T=GENER&L=en-CA&G=303&NFP=1#_ga=2.73582546.1163986426.1619482542-1266541063.1619482542
http://sjogrenscanada.org/donations/
https://beatarthritis.akaraisin.com/Donation/Event/DonationType.aspx?seid=4248&mid=48&Lang=en-CA
Questions of the episode:
1) Do you create safe spaces for your friends to be honest and share their personal struggles with you? Or do you need to be more open and vulnerable with your friends about your struggles? (P.S. use wisdom in discerning whom to trust with your story)
2) What can you do this week to support the autoimmune disease community? Can you donate to/fundraise for one of those foundations linked above? Can you share this episode and raise awareness through Janine's story? If you know anyone in your life currently living with an autoimmune or chronic illness, can you ask them if and how they'd like your support?
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DM Sarah on Instagram at: @the_sarahshow with your response!