CONNECTING THE DOTS

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[00:00:00]radio and social media platforms for the 2-hour CTD experience which celebrates the achievements of Dominicans.

[00:00:08]Connects tune in this Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We will solidify the connections we share with Dominicans all over. Hop on board the CD train and let's strengthen the ties that bind us. Connecting the dots as radio DBS.

[00:00:43]Heavenly Father, creator of mankind and the universe, we thank thee for the gift of life today and all the blessings you continue to bestow on your children. We seek your presence and intervention throughout this program and we ask that you keep us connected always. We also pray for the success of the program coordinators and listeners that they may find purpose and enjoy what we share.

[00:01:11]Bless our radio station and the nation and may we grow to love and each other irrespective of our differences.

[00:01:20]All this we ask in your name now and forever. Amen.

[00:01:43]Heat. Heat.

[00:01:59]Yes. We welcome you to another program on radio.

[00:02:06]Welcome, welcome people. It's connecting the dots time. Gather round.

[00:02:11]Let's begin. H All right, welcome again.

[00:02:37]Let's start the live. Let's begin the program.

[00:02:41]We are ready for another edition, another program on connecting the dots today, Saturday.

[00:02:46]Bonjour. Good day. Welcome to Connect the Dots.

[00:02:51]May 16. It is already the third day in the month of of May. Yeah. The second, the 9th, and the 16th. Right. I'm correct.

[00:03:00]The weather is um it's fine. It's weathering. We had some rain this morning.

[00:03:08]Not torrential rain, not heavy downpours.

[00:03:12]Let's hope it doesn't intensify.

[00:03:20]It's a beautiful Saturday all the same.

[00:03:23]We're going to have fun.

[00:03:27]Alvin Thomas and Alicia Griffith. I hope you all already are already on board.

[00:03:31]Please pay attention. I'm calling Nigel Francis right away because we have several guests on a two-part program this morning. Nigel, come a while, please.

[00:03:40]>> What's up? What's up? What's up?

[00:03:42]Morning. Morning. Morning. How are we doing? We're fine, you know, Nigel fine in our neck of the woods in our area.

[00:03:48]Anyone in the book, Nigel, let me tell you something. It's laughless today there. So, we have a short time with Alfred and the other guys.

[00:03:53]>> Running quick. We're running quick.

[00:03:55]>> Yes, we are just running the flight. We just moving.

[00:03:57]>> Yes. So, I was asking anybody on the any passenger that late, that's up to them.

[00:04:02]We're leaving them down this morning.

[00:04:03]>> Right. We're leaving them down because we really have to run this. Right.

[00:04:06]>> Anybody already on the book on the tube?

[00:04:08]No, not yet.

[00:04:10]>> Yeah. Good. Charles is always on very early these days. So, you know, happy Saturday to her. And you know, Barbie Thomas, of course, from London. Always on very early. So, good morning to you.

[00:04:21]>> Nigel, where are you? I not see you on camera.

[00:04:24]>> Why not?

[00:04:26]But you hearing me? Why you not seeing me?

[00:04:29]>> Yes. Yes. My technician is saying tell Nigel to put on his camera.

[00:04:33]>> And your camera is on.

[00:04:37]>> What? Nigel, we have to try something to bring you on.

[00:04:40]>> Dean, put the next switch. Okay.

[00:04:43]>> Okay. Look at you there in all your glory. But actually understood the assignment today there. You know, it's me that didn't understand it.

[00:04:50]>> Put on a nice shirt. Camera is on.

[00:04:53]>> What color is your shirt?

[00:04:55]>> That is it.

[00:04:56]>> I'm representing Lupus this morning. So I am I mean purple.

[00:04:59]>> Yeah, I should have put on my purple shirt. But the last time I put on purple and change and change.

[00:05:03]>> Yes. The last time I put on a purple shirt, I had to make noise with Dean because you were showing blue on screen.

[00:05:07]So I say you see that thing there but I'm still representing hold on.

[00:05:12]>> So I put blue hoping that it will come out.

[00:05:14]>> I put blue hoping you'll show.

[00:05:17]>> That is the logic. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. Yes.

[00:05:20]Yes. Yes. You still can't see me yet.

[00:05:23]>> Yeah. No, I not seen you. I mean I saw you a while ago but not like not um not on the on the live stream. So >> Okay. Okay. Well, I don't know. Yes.

[00:05:32]Well, um we'll Dean will fix that up because um I know we can see all we can all see each other on that link, >> but we need to see each other on the live see each other on the live.

[00:05:42]>> So, good morning. Good morning. Anyways, um Vad, good morning to you. Wants to say hello. I Nigel Matthew Joseph also wants to say good morning, but he in two places at the same time.

[00:05:55]Well, that's okay. That's what happens when you say you're late. Normally, you make up for it in the next week by being in two places at the same time. So, good morning to somebody named Alvin. I think he's early >> and he's in another place as well. So, good morning to you. Um, who's this show? Jo, good morning. Of course, we green always early says BJU. Good morning to everybody else.

[00:06:16]Edina London from Texas. Good morning to you. Always locked on. Appreciate it.

[00:06:24]>> Nigel, >> Norin, Norin, I can see I would not see Niger.

[00:06:28]>> Yes, Nigel. Hurry. I have I have another technician there, you know.

[00:06:33]>> So, >> what Dean doing me this morning?

[00:06:35]>> Yeah.

[00:06:36]>> Any we'll get it sorted out now. We'll get it sorted out. It's okay. But you don't need to see me. I'm still here looking good. So, that's okay.

[00:06:47]>> Any say she miss wearing her V say she miss wearing her favorite color. Um, so you still have chances. You have a whole >> you have a whole month. I think it's the month of May. So you have an entire month to wear your color. We'll find out more about that in a while. You know, >> we want to raise awareness, not just about lupus, but about the association, about how people can help, you know, and all of that.

[00:07:09]>> Yes. Yes. Yes. And then of course, you know, we have a big thing as well coming up later on next weekend.

[00:07:14]>> Yes. We So we'll talk about the carnival first quickly. We'll give them about 15 to 20 minutes and then we'll bring on our guests who are in studio already waiting.

[00:07:23]>> Yeah.

[00:07:24]>> Wonderful. Wonderful. I think you can see me now.

[00:07:26]>> Yes, I can see you now. So, we're going to now bring on Alvin Thomas and Joseph Tutti, right? To tell us about Atlanta Caribbean Carnival. We >> tell us about that.

[00:07:36]>> There's an infusion of of Island Classics. But what is the Island Classics about? That's what we want to find out. So, so let's bring them on >> and they might give me a little me and tell me I'm not coming this year, >> but it's all good, you know, and unfortunately, but good morning to you, Alvin, and good morning to you, Joseph Tutti. Good to have you guys back on connecting the dots. Um, how you doing, Alvin?

[00:08:01]>> Well, for your mouth moving, but I'm not hearing you. So, you're on mute.

[00:08:06]>> I'm not seeing him neither.

[00:08:08]I'm not seeing Alvin.

[00:08:11]I'm not seeing Tutti either as well.

[00:08:13]>> Well, I haven't seen them on the other link, but I'm not seeing them on the the the the live yet. So, maybe you have to flip a switch. Is that something? I don't know. Um, let's make sure.

[00:08:24]In the meantime, good morning to you, Narin Murphy. Always appreciate you and Miguel as well. Miguel Murphy, of course, grand rising to you. Appreciate it, Miguel.

[00:08:33]>> So, we're trying to get sorted out if Alvin and Andy, right?

[00:08:37]>> Mhm.

[00:08:39]Let me see if I can hear them first on the other, you hearing me?

[00:08:44]>> We're not hearing them either. So, we have to we have to revert.

[00:08:48]>> So, he can hear me, but I'm not hearing you.

[00:08:49]>> We'll have to change the the script.

[00:08:51]Alvin, can you hear me?

[00:08:54]>> Yes, but we're not hearing you. Okay, so let's get that sorted out. Um, >> cuz they're hearing me, but I'm not hearing them.

[00:09:01]>> Yeah.

[00:09:02]>> I'm going to read lips this morning.

[00:09:04]>> So, I suspect what we'll have to do is start with the lupus um foundation first and then go on to Alvin. Let's see in a minute what happens because >> well, let's see if we can hear any of the lupus people first.

[00:09:14]>> Let's see if we can get Alvin one more time. Alvin and Touty and if not we just continue and we go ahead with the the the folks from the Lupus Foundation.

[00:09:24]Yeah. But I'm seeing Alvin. I'm seeing all the others.

[00:09:27]>> Yes, I'm seeing everybody. I'm just not I'm just not here.

[00:09:30]>> Good morning there as well.

[00:09:31]>> Okay. I think I'm hearing you who's the person that said good morning there.

[00:09:35]>> There's a lovely lady.

[00:09:36]>> Okay. So, we can hear Denise. Good morning to you Denise. Appreciate you.

[00:09:40]Good morning. And let's see if we can hear Alvin. Hi, Alvin.

[00:09:45]Alvin.

[00:09:47]Are you muted?

[00:09:49]Vinnie, hold on.

[00:09:50]>> Are you muted?

[00:09:52]>> Alvin, are you on mute?

[00:09:54]>> I can hear I I can hear Tutti now.

[00:09:56]>> Okay, you can hear Tutti. Okay, so let's let Hi, Alvin.

[00:10:02]>> Okay, I just want us to start with this segment into >> Yes, but we can hear Tuti. So, we will go along with coming back in.

[00:10:09]>> He's coming back in. All right, Joseph Tut, good morning to you, man. It's good to connect again. How are you doing?

[00:10:16]Hey, Joseph Toutty Geese. That's what your second or your third time on the program already.

[00:10:22]>> Yes, I know. I'm becoming a regular.

[00:10:24]Thank you so much.

[00:10:25]>> Yes, sir.

[00:10:25]>> Yeah. Well, that's what happens when you go to SMA. You know, you Okay. Like, seriously, man.

[00:10:31]>> That was fun. That that that that and thanks for all the help you guys gave us during that period. It it was very very successful.

[00:10:39]>> All right. We ended up making a really nice contribution to SMA based on, you know, on all the funds that we raised.

[00:10:47]It was fun. It was nice. It was nice being home. Yeah.

[00:10:51]>> Well, that's good. That's good. Um, and of course, you're looking forward to an even bigger production, I understand, this year. Let's see if Alvin is on.

[00:10:58]Alvin Thomas, good morning.

[00:11:00]>> He's He just sent the message. He's going to log back in in a different one.

[00:11:04]>> All right. Okay. In the meantime, he says Joseph will handle everything. So, two is going to take care of everything.

[00:11:09]a big shoes to fill. Alvin shoes is a huge shoes to fill, but I'll try.

[00:11:13]>> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. We will see how we can fill that in. So, I mean, next weekend is the big thing. And um I know you know Atlanta Carnival is coming around and every year you guys get together and you put on this event called Island Classic. Um what is Island Classic for those who don't know?

[00:11:30]>> Well, it's a a a Dominican group. We we came together just before co and we put together this this this organization this group and the whole goal of the organization was to um eventually raise funds that we can support some cause in Dominica um whether it be an elderly or youth um just some way we can contribute you know to some kind of cause in Dominica. So um we've been doing this now for about 6 years and and um finally after a lot of effort we we became a 501c3 organization. So that put that positions us uh puts us in a better position to be able to to do more fundraising not just during the event which is what we did in the past but now we can do it year round you know so we're excited about that part of it. Uh but in the end I mean it it has been just a wonderful opportunity to to to come together and meet a lot of people from Dominica, have a good time and and um and thank God this year we're able to transition into something more something bigger, you know, something more in a in a situation to to raise more funds so we can help some some cause in Dominica, you know. So >> all right, love that. Love that. Alvin, you're back on. Let's see if we can hear you.

[00:12:53]Okay, let's Hi, Alvin.

[00:12:56]>> Are you able to hear him?

[00:12:57]>> No, I'm not hearing him. So, let's continue.

[00:13:01]>> Yes.

[00:13:02]>> Where where's his lap wall today?

[00:13:04]>> Lap today.

[00:13:06]>> Can you hear me?

[00:13:07]>> I hope when he comes in, he doesn't say what school he went to. Nigel, please.

[00:13:10]Um, I hope you informed him that when he comes in, he can just move on with the program and not We don't We're not asking what school he went to, things like that. Okay.

[00:13:17]>> No, we won't ask him that. But, but of course, he'll tell us. But I think we can hear him now. We can hear him. Yes.

[00:13:24]Hi, Alvin Thomas. Good morning.

[00:13:28]>> Look, I'm not hearing him again though.

[00:13:30]>> Okay.

[00:13:31]>> He disappear again.

[00:13:32]>> All right. There's a little delay. I I have a technician right there with me.

[00:13:35]So, we are it's we are Can you hear me now? Are you hearing me?

[00:13:41]Yes. Yes. Yes. We can hear you.

[00:13:42]>> All right.

[00:13:43]>> Okay. Yes. Yes. So, Island Classics is once again um adding an upscale, all-inclusive, I understood experience to Atlantic Carnival. You can tell us about that and tell us your your who is Alvin Thomas in reference to Island Classics, in reference to Atlantic Carnival as well.

[00:14:05]All right. So, Nigel, there's a delay.

[00:14:09]So, I know he's speaking, but um we can hear him right now. So, let's see how that goes.

[00:14:13]>> Can you hear me? All right. Okay. Go ahead. Yes. Go ahead. Yes, we can hear you.

[00:14:18]>> Okay. Okay. You wanted to know who's Alvin Thomas? Um I think I think you know who that is. Ivo.

[00:14:26]>> Um but Alvin Thomas is a former SMA student. That's who he is.

[00:14:32]>> Okay. Move on. Move on.

[00:14:33]>> Like Nigel Francis.

[00:14:37]>> All right.

[00:14:38]>> You can't take you can't take the SMA out of us, right? So good. Good stuff.

[00:14:42]Good stuff. Good stuff.

[00:14:43]>> No, no, no, no. You can you can you can but um just to say as just to say as it relates to Island Classic I think um Tutti has indicated it is something that we've started back in 2019 and basically it is where it's a group formed for two purposes mainly to help promote the cultural and the heritage aspect of um of our culture Dominica and and one might say by extension the Caribbean because whatever we do we extend it to other folks from the Caribbean but more importantly um we whatever proceeds that come out of the activities that we undertake we give it back to a worthy cause in Dominica that's the intention to support any worthy cause in Dominica and that basically is the intention of course you know Nigel um whenever we migrate to those um diaspora countries as they call it we we can leave our culture behind It's amazing that I I learned to dance uh quad drill heel and two and all that good stuff when I moved to Atlanta.

[00:15:50]Something I didn't do in Dominica because that culture is embedded in you and you want to you know so that's basically what we do. Um I will say to that Island Classic over the last year we have um we are now a 5013C a 501c3 organization in the US and that is um that is something you apply to the IRS and of course you go through a process and the IRS will either approve or disapprove you and they approved us and what that does for us of course it give us a certain um legal status in the US um meaning that we can approach corporate sponsors and of they of course can get tax um write offs for whatever donations they make. So this year event is coming up. It is big. I know Nigel has attended one before. I'm not sure what happened. He hasn't come back again. I know he and his family had a great time. Um excellent. This year every year we have a theme. We have a theme and this is tropical extravaganza.

[00:16:51]And um that is the theme when we did it.

[00:16:54]The first year we did it um in 2019 I think it was as Tutti mentioned our theme was splash of splash of color and then of course we we took a little hiatus during COVID and then we resumed.

[00:17:07]So we have been going for the last I've had the event for the last 5 years or so um out of the 7-year period we have been around. So basically that's what we do.

[00:17:16]So this year event is going to be this.

[00:17:21]So, so when you mentioned uh >> meaning that you pay one fee, go ahead.

[00:17:27]>> No, no, no, no, no. I was just going to say you mentioned that the theme is tropical extravaganza. Um, so I was just going to ask I'm I'm 2T as well in terms of that. Um, how you guys come together and put the theme, somebody just come up with the idea. You decide to say let's try this, let's try that. How did you come up with tropical extravaganza?

[00:17:44]>> Well, that's exactly what we do. You know, every year we try to theme it. So we asked for ideas and maybe a concept around it. So I mean in the end it's it's it's island classics. It's old school jam. The music's good. The food's good. The camaraderie is good. So uh but we give it a theme and that that influences the decorations that we have and Kita I'm sure you guys know Kita has been doing a fantastic job in in decorating the place and and that's not all she does of course but you know that's one of her responsibilities and the place always look really nice and you know we have this little area reserved for people taking you know pictures when they walk in and it really is a spectacle.

[00:18:27]>> Yeah, that's good. That's good. Um, of course, it is a fact that um, Caribbean groups have significantly influenced carnival celebrations in the US and in North America as well. Um, not only through their contributions to music, to dance, you know, to cultural expressions, but also their economic impact and cultural integration are huge takeaways as well. Um, um, do you believe this? Have you seen Island Classic in particular? um contributing to to to that evolution of you know the cultural landscape in in in North America in in Canada as as as I mentioned in the US as well.

[00:19:09]Oh yeah, absolutely. Ivo, absolutely. I mean, those of us um this year, for example, um Atlanta Carnival will be 39 years in its making. 39. Next year, they will be 40 years. And I mean, if you go to um um they started back in 1987.

[00:19:27]And if you go to Miami Carnival, um Miami Carnival I believe started even way before um Atlanta Carnival. I think um last year if I'm not mistaken they did um um 40 something they started back in 1984 and um you have not hill Carnival in England that started in 1966 and um so so yeah you're right I mean Labor Day New York started way long time ago um in New York and you have cariban as well so you you have all of those activities taking place throughout North America they've they've been going for well over well over 30 something years close to 40 years. So that's what happens when when the Caribbean people come to North America, Canada, even London, like I said, they don't leave their culture behind. They do that. But I think in addition to that though um when these activities take place in those um metropolitan cities or or or areas the the the place itself benefits you know the amount of hotel bookings, car rentals, airlines I mean you name it. I mean just think of the same thing when we have our world music trio festival and a lot of people visit back home and the economic buoyancy that takes place.

[00:20:49]The same thing happens in any one of those places. When Miami has its carnival, Caribana has theirs, Atlanta has theirs. So, it's a win-win. Um, we enjoy ourselves as Caribbean people.

[00:21:00]We're able to raise funds, as we say, to send back to our people back home. And the city itself, the country itself benefits by way of revenue that is generated from those activities.

[00:21:11]>> But in terms of the island classic, like we said earlier, it's an all-inclusive.

[00:21:16]Um, and it's it's a giveaway. Nigel, know it's a giveaway.

[00:21:19]>> It is.

[00:21:20]>> For $100, you get a full dinner, full cost dinner with dessert, with wine, a live band playing, an open bowel night.

[00:21:28]So, if you decide to come in from 8:00 and leave all 3:00 a.m. in the morning, you are drinking all night. You don't have to think of where's my wallet, stand in a line for a ticket, buy a ticket, nothing like that. You pay this money, you walk in, and you have a good time from the time you reach um until you decide to leave. And it's just $100 US. It's it's a giveaway, quite frankly.

[00:21:54]And as I said, every cent that we raise goes towards some cause in Dominica. So, we really want to encourage a lot of Dominicans um who may be coming into Atlanta for the carnival from New York, from Miami, Boston, wherever it is, get your ticket. Trust me, there's nothing like that in Atlanta. You know, Nigel, you've been >> Oh, yes. Oh, yes.

[00:22:16]>> Nothing like that. That's the only one.

[00:22:17]Unique.

[00:22:18]>> That's the only one. That's the only one. And that's where you get together and you see folks you haven't seen for a while. And the music is excellent by Impulse Band. And the food and the drink. You can't go wrong with that, you know. How can they get the tickets?

[00:22:31]>> My fed.com.

[00:22:33]Myfett tickets.com. Just go to myfett tickets.com and um you know, just buy your ticket. We have tickets. We have a few tickets left. So rush.

[00:22:43]>> All right.

[00:22:43]>> And of course, you know what Dominican people, some of them will be like, but see, what is that my fed? I don't have that. Give me your number. I just want to call Alvin. I just want to call >> I can reach somebody.

[00:22:54]>> Absolutely.

[00:22:54]>> That's how we are.

[00:22:55]>> Yeah, we could put it on the live. Yes, we could put it in the >> Yeah, we'll we'll send it to you to put on the live reach. My number is is available. 404 3964807.

[00:23:06]Penita Schillingford. also Audrey Hamlet, Joseph Gase, Victor Lewis. I mean any one of those names you hear um you can contact us and you can get tickets. And again, >> for those who arrive late, can they >> For those who arrive late, you will get tickets at the door. Can they come right at the door and just get >> You can come right at the door and you will get a ticket. Absolutely.

[00:23:27]Absolutely. You can get a ticket right at the door and you'll get a ticket, you know. And um you just ask for ask for any one of us and you should be good to go. I think I think Z was just saying there that she needs a complimentary ticket as your as your as her your daughter. She she needs to give a compliment.

[00:23:47]>> Well, you know what? You know what? If she's if she's able to to to how should I say it? If she's able to sell 10 tickets, maybe I'll make Yeah. 10 or 15.

[00:23:56]To every 15, she'll get one.

[00:23:59]>> Are you in Atlanta?

[00:24:01]>> Yes, she's in Atlanta.

[00:24:02]>> Yes, I am. Yeah, I am in Atlanta. Okay.

[00:24:04]>> So, every 15 tickets you get one.

[00:24:07]>> Cool. Cool. Cool.

[00:24:09]>> Yes. I don't think you agree with that.

[00:24:13]>> Not yet.

[00:24:14]>> No, I I don't think you agree with that.

[00:24:16]15 to get one.

[00:24:17]>> No, I No, I don't. He knows I don't agree. I'll come to his house to get my ticket. It's okay.

[00:24:22]>> All right. That's settled. That's >> He knows where I live. She can find me.

[00:24:25]>> Okay, papa. All right. But Nigel, it just me though as well Nigel because remember we were talking about the benefits like the cultural um landscape of course and um Alvin mentioned the economic buoyancy. It just dawned on me, Nigel, that what we should do like going forward as well, especially now because the the activities are coming up with Dominicans outside of Dominica, we can have a core group like maybe about six, seven of the organizers at various events and um you know have them on and and we can look at that. Definitely definitely we're on for that for that.

[00:25:01]>> I just see uh Tifia Tifa Charles asks is the dress code tropical as well? The answer to that is yes. Dress to impress.

[00:25:11]As I said, the theme is tropical extravaganza and make it carnival. I mean, I know you ladies, whether it's in Dominica or in Atlanta, I mean, we we don't even have to give any instructions on that. I saw the recently held um Creole, Jazz and Creole, and oh my god.

[00:25:30]So, the ladies in Atlanta, yes, come nicely dressed. I know the men will try to put something on whatever it is you know but really nice atmosphere >> but only men I see talking about ladies that's the impulse band or yes it is yes and that too that too I must say Ivo and and to the listeners and Nigel Impulse Band is a Dominican group based in Tampa Florida um the leader of the band is Teddy Henderson Teddy's from Grand Bay and um you have also um three other guys there. Um one of the guys, what's his name now? It don't come to mind, but he feel right.

[00:26:14]>> Yeah, he played the swinging stars many many many years.

[00:26:16]>> Yeah, that's Yeah, I feel >> Yeah.

[00:26:18]>> Well, we Well, we call him, but Leroy Leroy Leroy Spiky spiky spiky. That's right. Leroy G. Let me tell you, this band's been performing, playing for us for the last three years now. This year is your third year. And these guys are great. Trust me.

[00:26:36]>> And although some of the folks, again, let me say that although some of the folks might hear the term old school and may feel, oh, this thing is for old people, blah blah blah.

[00:26:45]>> Um, you would Nigel and the music, trust me, they play all genre of music. All genre of music they play.

[00:26:54]>> But like I said, it's just the ambiance, the atmosphere, and everything that goes with it. It's really, really, really a nice event to attend.

[00:27:03]>> Okay. And that event is when? What? What date is that?

[00:27:07]>> May >> 2026 starting at 8:00 p.m. And once you walk in, you get a doves, you get soup, you get your B >> and and uh I'm What's the address?

[00:27:23]>> JVC Hall in in Liilburn, Georgia. JVC Event Hall, Liilburn, Georgia. All right.

[00:27:30]>> Yeah.

[00:27:32]>> Yeah.

[00:27:32]>> And that's on the Friday before the before the Friday, Georgia.

[00:27:39]>> Yeah.

[00:27:39]>> Yes.

[00:27:40]>> We actually the Saturday generally the parade day.

[00:27:46]So the Friday well actually event starts from as early in some cases from the Wednesday. First day you have um various activities. Then Friday night you have more activities and that's when ours is held. Saturday morning you have um the Juvet and then um you have the parade and then um Sunday you have more activities taking place across the the state. And then Monday of course you have more events where people have you know the various home barbecues and that type of stuff. But that is the entire that's what the Atlanta carnival looks like um in Atlanta.

[00:28:23]>> Right. Okay.

[00:28:24]>> So So Friday is the day.

[00:28:25]>> Yes. Friday.

[00:28:26]>> Friday the day the night that we which means Alvin we won't sit and blame yourself.

[00:28:33]>> Right. And we won't see you on Saturday morning. And you will not be early as usual.

[00:28:37]>> So we we trying to get up and trying to get up.

[00:28:41]>> We'll probably give you a pass for that Saturday. We'll give you a pass.

[00:28:44]>> Yeah. We we understand what's going to happen, you know, from Friday when he gets there. Uh, and the event ends when when people leave. Right. When people leave 132.

[00:28:54]>> When people leave. When they're tired, they leave. When they're tired.

[00:28:57]>> All right. Well, let me wish you all the best. Okay.

[00:29:00]>> I I'm extending an invitation to you to next year. Next year, >> um, Atlanta will be 40 years for their carnival.

[00:29:09]>> All right.

[00:29:09]>> So, I'm giving you an early invitation.

[00:29:11]>> Okay. All right. So, next year we'll be doing that and then we will do connecting the dots from, you know, >> the Atlanta >> from the Atlanta Carnival.

[00:29:17]>> Exactly. That's what I'm talking about.

[00:29:20]>> All right. All right. All right. So, I thank you. Yes. Thank you so much. We'll we'll um we'll link up with you all again some other time, >> but um I'm very happy that we made the time to to discuss this very important aspect of of our country.

[00:29:34]>> Thank you. Thank you very much.

[00:29:36]>> All right.

[00:29:36]>> Thank you.

[00:29:37]>> All right. Have a great day. Take care.

[00:29:38]Byebye. Take care. Thank you guys. All right.

[00:29:40]>> Okay. Yes, Nigel. Very interesting.

[00:29:43]>> Very very interesting what they're doing here in terms of what's going to happen for the Atlanta Carnival Island Classics on Friday. I'm telling you, I mean, I was there a couple years last time they had it and it was >> excellent.

[00:29:55]>> So, get ready for that. Um, >> so it's now for part two, Nigel. Yeah.

[00:29:59]Go ahead.

[00:29:59]>> But, but before, how many people tell you I I'm not reading the comments. I'm moving on because everybody say, "Boy, I b your your haircut looking really nice.

[00:30:09]That fit."

[00:30:09]>> Oh, no. I did not cut my hair. You know, I not it's not cut. I just crunch it.

[00:30:13]Just crunch. I That's that that that look fitting. I take a haircut. Nobody didn't say anything about me. That's why I'm not reading the comments. Moving on.

[00:30:21]>> Yeah. Move on.

[00:30:23]>> It's not a haircut. It's just a crunch.

[00:30:24]A hair crunch.

[00:30:25]>> Okay. It's just a hair crunch. Not a haircut. All you understand now. So, next week when she come back, don't say, "But I grow back." I know. No, it's just a hair crunch, right?

[00:30:34]>> Yeah. But it's time for part two on connecting the dots um to Nigel.

[00:30:38]>> Yes. Yes.

[00:30:39]>> Um it is lupus awareness month and um there is also a lupus foundation in Dominica.

[00:30:47]>> But um how much do we know about lupus?

[00:30:51]I I did a little research. I I found out that it is an autoimmune disease. Um my research also taught me that it is a disease where the let me see if I can remember clearly where the immune system attacks healthy healthy tissues and and you know that leads to inflammation you know and damage across various body systems. Um >> but obviously there's a lot more to to learn you know hence the reason why our guests are on today. Lovely people, very powerful. I think two is on Zoom and we have two in studio and they're rocking the color purple with Nigel and um Yes.

[00:31:34]So, let's let's welcome them, Nigel.

[00:31:37]>> Yes, let me welcome them again to connect on the dots. It's a pleasure to have you guys connecting with us. Um we'll see those in the studio in a little while. Oh, here they go. Oh, man.

[00:31:47]Yes, you guys make purple look good.

[00:31:49]>> Yes. Well, there's something appreciate that purple is very rare. about purple and I chose a nice light lilac purple kind of a color because I said I had to come and see all I represent as well.

[00:32:01]>> But yes, I mean it's it's a pleasure to have you. We're going to find out about the Lupus Foundation. We're going to find out what you guys are doing for the month. Um we're going to find out about you as well as individuals. We like always like to, you know, get the story.

[00:32:14]We like the backstory, you know, as to who you are and how you end up there and all the rest of it. So, welcome to connecting the dots. Sorry, the YouTube people. I know I haven't said hi to you, but I am saying hi to you now and then I'll say hi to you and tell you all the comments after. But we always appreciate the connection. So, appreciate that.

[00:32:33]>> Who do we start with first? I who you want to go in studio first?

[00:32:38]>> Yeah, let let's go in studio. I think we had the president with us in studio as well. So, let's go to studio and then of course we'll bring on the others. Um, yes, good morning. Tell us who you are in studio 2.

[00:32:50]>> The president.

[00:32:51]>> Good morning. I'm Gloren Thomas, founder and president of the Lupus Foundation of Dominica.

[00:32:57]And along with me is my sister.

[00:33:00]She'll introduce herself.

[00:33:03]>> Your sister as well has a very interesting story. You know, but anyway, tell us who you are. So I am Vernander Reman um sister >> and strong supporter and advocate um of my sister not just my sister but others who suffer from lupus as well. Um and I try to do my best though silent but I try to do my best to ensure that they get visibility for lupus because it is something that we need to make more visible. It is something that we need to bring on the forefront and the agenda and we need to ensure that um support is provided for those who suffer with lupus.

[00:33:44]>> Definitely. But Vernando Raymon, you we are another hat as well and something is happening with that hat. So I wear many hats. Um I'm not here on on those other hats but um professionally I'm a public officer. I have served as a chief librarian. I now work within the Ministry of Health and I also am a member and supporter of the Office of Disaster Management working for district disaster committees.

[00:34:16]Okay, so Nigel, so we have two others via Zoom. So let's hear from them as well. Hi, >> who is on via Zoom?

[00:34:25]>> Yeah, D. I think D is on. Yes.

[00:34:27]>> Hi D.

[00:34:28]>> Hi. Good morning.

[00:34:29]>> Hi. Um, Denise.

[00:34:30]>> Hi, Dennis.

[00:34:31]>> Oh, Denise.

[00:34:33]>> Denise. Okay. Uhhuh.

[00:34:35]>> Denise blah.

[00:34:36]>> She's Denise Dominican, but Denise up.

[00:34:39]>> Denise blah. Yes. Yes. Good morning.

[00:34:42]Good morning.

[00:34:42]>> You know Nigel as well, right?

[00:34:46]>> I'm familiar with him. I think >> I like that term. Okay. It's a pleasure to have you on. And who is on? Who again is on?

[00:34:55]>> My name is Krishna.

[00:34:57]>> Yes. 19 loopy survivor.

[00:35:03]>> Beautiful. Beautiful. We're going to find out about all the survival stories and of course the lupus and how you guys are part of it. By the way, let me say good morning to Sha and to Stanley St. Rose in Atlanta. I know you guys are going to be for Cannibal, but apart from that, you know, their daughter Kayla um celebrating her 25th birthday next month. Um she's also a lupus survivor and um I'm going to get in touch with one of you guys because they are coming down to Dominican next month and they are wanting to make a donation to the Lupus Foundations cuz your daughter also is a survivor and she's doing excellently and everything else and they want to contribute and make a donation.

[00:35:43]So I will share the contacts when they come down. So hey Sha Stanley good morning to you. appreciate that >> and I know next week you're going to be in Carnival but then of course you'll be down in Dominica to make that donation and celebrate Kayla Kayla happy 25th when it comes around. Right.

[00:35:58]>> Mhm.

[00:35:59]>> So, >> so as you mentioned donation, just to interrupt you. So, I'm hoping that this program as I said earlier will also um not only shed light on lupus but we'll also there are people will also reach out to assist the association the foundation as well. So, not not to me or and Nigel. So, please so we'll have to give numbers and we'll have to give address and all of that on the live but I'm hoping that this program can generate that kind of you know impact.

[00:36:25]>> Most definitely. Most definitely because that's important. That's important for that to happen, you know.

[00:36:30]>> So, um, but before we get to the Lucas, we want to find out about where they from, you know, we like to know what part of Dominica you from and we like to know, you know, what you're doing and, you know, all, you know, the nice stuff.

[00:36:41]So, so I'm I'm Glendel Stwick. I guess we can start with you since you started off first, right? Um, what part of Greek are you from?

[00:36:48]>> Um, I'm from Kinsil.

[00:36:51]>> Kinsil.

[00:36:51]>> Yes, Kinsville. Born, raised, bought Kinsil.

[00:36:54]>> Born, raised, grew up everything. No, that's her second time on the program.

[00:36:57]You know, she was on already. At that time, I was on vacation. I was out of state. Remember, I was out of state and then the lights went where I was.

[00:37:05]>> I remember that. That fiasco we had on that day, we have to continue. That is correct. That is correct. Yes. Yes. Yes.

[00:37:12]Yes. I remember now.

[00:37:13]>> Yes. It's not >> I remember now. You've done so many of the programs sometimes, you know. But yeah, definitely. Yes.

[00:37:19]>> All right. So, so, so we can go to Vernand now is going to tell us what part of Dominic is. Is that her first time on the program?

[00:37:26]Yes, it is. And I should be saying sir to Nigel. He taught me at the Dominica Grammar School.

[00:37:30]>> Say that again, please. I forget to ask you that. What?

[00:37:33]>> What part you have to say?

[00:37:35]>> Say that again. What school you went to, please? Dominica grammar school. Okay, that's it. Thank you so much.

[00:37:40]>> Yes. Yes. And yes. And she said I taught at the Dill Grammar School. Appreciate that.

[00:37:45]>> So I I am from Kingsale originally.

[00:37:47]>> I remember Fernando.

[00:37:48]>> Of course you would. I am from Kingsville.

[00:37:50]>> Of course.

[00:37:51]>> I am from Kingsville originally. I I live now in the Roso Valley, a very beautiful space within Dominica, >> the um capital or mecca of nature >> in in in Dominica. Um as I said earlier, I h I'm a public officer. I have worked at various places within the public service. Presently, I'm within the Ministry of Health and I'm a strong support and advocate for disaster management. So, I also serve as the disaster chair for the Roso West and also serve my local disaster um committee.

[00:38:27]>> All right.

[00:38:27]>> Nice, nice, nice. That's a lot of things you do in your one all over the place.

[00:38:33]>> Yes.

[00:38:33]>> Yes. Oh, sorry. Somebody was just saying good morning. Good morning to you, Janet D. Appreciate you. If I get Janet D.

[00:38:38]Good morning, Janet, appreciate it. Yes.

[00:38:41]Um and then um Denise um Denise Denise D um Domica what part of Dom if you're not there now?

[00:38:52]>> Um I am I was born in F County Roso Valley. Hey but I live I lived in Castle Comfort. Um my father was Mr. Dennis Blah who passed away last year.

[00:39:03]>> Um so we lived in Castle Comfort for most of my teenage years until I moved to the US. So I'm in Atlanta now.

[00:39:12]>> Okay.

[00:39:13]>> Nice. Nice. And then of course um is it Katrina? Did I say Krishna?

[00:39:18]>> Krishna Krishna.

[00:39:19]>> Krishna Krishna Krishna.

[00:39:22]>> I'm from Penville.

[00:39:24]Um spent most of my life there until I well I lived in Roso because I used to work at PH when PH was PH um as a registered nurse until I migrated to New Jersey.

[00:39:38]>> Nice. Nice. So you see on my we all over the globe you know all over the globe and all over. So we have Penville, we have Fanny, we have um Kingsville, Roso Valley is a whole mix there this morning. So so we appreciate that. I mean before we get to the loop I mean what was it like for you guys like just early growing up in those communities?

[00:40:01]Was it something you enjoyed? What are some of the things you did? Who wants to go first?

[00:40:06]>> Okay. Um I enjoy growing up in Kinsville because we had some fun times. We had our little own youth group where we used to go on different hiking and no matter where we go is our father and mother plantation. So we see a banana we see mango we right we are but it's our mother and father plantation. We will enjoy ourself do the rivers and hiking.

[00:40:28]We went to the boiling lake maybe three four times.

[00:40:32]So it it was it was fun growing up in Kinsville and um with the other young people also >> as you mentioned the young people. What was the input of the elders in the community? What was it like the community connection?

[00:40:45]>> It was very great. It was very good.

[00:40:48]It's still a small um united group but as you know most of the elderly that we grew up we for our time have passed on.

[00:40:57]>> So it's um new how I say it we are becoming the elderly now. not saying our age yet but we are becoming the Llies now. So it's our it's our our journey now to guide the youth the younger ones now as the >> previous did for us.

[00:41:14]>> I remember Mabin.

[00:41:15]>> Yes we boy. Yes. We have a connection by the way. I have a connection with the two of them in studio.

[00:41:20]>> You have a connection with the both of them.

[00:41:22]>> Oh yes. Yes. The both of them. Yes. Yes.

[00:41:24]>> Okay. All right. All right. All right.

[00:41:26]>> Yes.

[00:41:27]>> So Vernando can tell >> right there. What's what's I call my dear now mother saying so so what you doing um >> well you took us up >> I was very active um very very active um I believe in participation um I believe in doing what you can for person's development and empowerment so um part of the drama club part of sports part of netball um I may have spent And for my entire five years at grammar school, maybe 90 95% of my afternoons at grammar school gave in my time.

[00:42:07]>> Um I conquer with my sister um gloring which I call go.

[00:42:11]>> So you'll hear those terms maybe further.

[00:42:14]>> Um but um family was a big time growing up. Um youth activity very active with youth activity. Mrs. Alfred, Mr. later all of these um persons who we worked with um ensuring that there was um a positive youth group and youth movement and we did ensure we engage the um the elder pe elderly within our communities.

[00:42:38]I mean you speak about Mashab being my grandmother. My job during summer was to ensure that I visit those that she could not visit and pass the messages for her and go back home and inform her. Also we have a very close connection to New Town as well. um um Auntie Jonah, my my great great grand aunt um who I had to visit every weekend, bring my smaller cousins along and ensure that the family connection was there and that we were active and participating in community development.

[00:43:09]>> Wow.

[00:43:10]>> Oh, and one other thing um our father which is Mr. um John Felix Thomas was also president of a youth organization in Kinsil also part of the football um organization in Kinsil. So he and we know also he's also a politician. So he he instilling in us the act the thing for raising >> awareness >> community engagement >> community awareness and ensuring that you give to country as well much involved as well. Yes. And she Yes.

[00:43:45]>> Yeah. So you all are wellrounded. You're in football. You you you saw politics in your family. You saw so so many things.

[00:43:51]>> Yes. Even as as my mom also was in the city council, so if doing the the council helping in building up the the city and everything. So we were wellrounded.

[00:44:04]>> Mhm. That's good.

[00:44:05]>> Nice. I love that. I love that. I love that. But I know Christian Penville was different, right? growing up in Penville might have been different than maybe what um um Randang and Glend are talking about.

[00:44:16]>> Yeah. More rivers, more gardens, more reading climbing trees, picking mangoes, the those kind of good times. And when the community could discipline you, you had aunties and uncles and mis and cousins. So they could discipline you. They were raising you. Everybody was under well not everybody but majority of us was under lock and key had to be home by a certain time you know that kind of thing and everybody was looking out for each other. So when I was a child I I used to find it was annoying but it was beneficial.

[00:44:56]Yeah, I know. I know how it is when you when when we look back at the childhood, you know, that's when we obviously man some of the things that were done was really necess necessary just made us who we are today, you know. So, >> yes.

[00:45:09]>> Um, yeah, that's that's that's that's cool. Um, Denise D, what about you?

[00:45:14]>> Um, so my coffee was 6:00 was not playing with me. So before the lights >> come off, I have to be cast a comfort whether I walk, fly, >> however I get there cuz we lived all the way up like >> above going to Jirel. So I had to figure out a way there. Um but my childhood was really I will say really good. I was wellrounded. My mom is a teacher Eugenia Joseph um blah. She was a cricketer as well. So I used to go play watch women's cricket and knew and score when I didn't want to do that cuz I really wanted to be home. So I I had to follow her everywhere she was going. My mom played net ball.

[00:45:53]Um they loved football. So also as a child I did a lot of mango picking. Um we had rivers in Palm County. Go to the rivers cook. It was it was good. My family was we were very family oriented.

[00:46:07]We did a lot of stuff with um >> other families get togethers on Sundays and it was it was as Krishna said it was a family. If I did something and somebody saw me before I got home which I rarely did but which I got home my father and my mother knew about it already. So I you know but it was a good I loved my childhood. I miss it actually. I I hate being 45. I wish I could be 15 again and be home with my mom and my sister. So Yeah. Yeah. I know. I know. By the way, did did all of you knew each other before? This is like the first time you're connecting or >> um I've known Glory all my most of my life cuz we went to St. Martin secondary school together. So when I moved to Castle Comfort, I met her at New Town um the church um and at school. Uh Krishna I found I met when I had lupus.

[00:47:01]>> Interesting. Interesting. Interesting. I guess that gets us to the lupus, right?

[00:47:04]eyeborn.

[00:47:05]>> Yeah, definitely. Naturally, I learned as well though as whilst I was doing some research um um last night >> that um lupus can be um a deeply personal and sometimes invisible illness and and questions should be supportive rather than intrusive. So, you know, that really stayed with me.

[00:47:28]>> So, really really >> definitely keep that in mind in the questions that I ask.

[00:47:32]>> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes, that's why this year under our theme it's like for the past years is make lupus visible and strive for change because most people look at us on the outside and say you cannot you you don't have lupus you don't look like other people who you don't look sick but the invisibility is the damage that is being done inside because every lupus patient or warrior their symptoms and their flares are quite quite different.

[00:48:04]So it makes it hard for you to say pingpoint and say this person have lupus or this person don't have lupus but you don't look like you have lupus up to yesterday while a friend of mine was um doing some awareness campaign for us and she went to a gentleman she was telling him about the lupus foundation and how we're trying to raise awareness with our walk he said but wait a while glorin no glorin don't have lupus no I know people with lupus gllorin don't have lupus you don't see you. No, man. That that Uh-uh. Um, come back again. That's just how we tell. So, she's she explained to him and tell him it don't show on the outside for me, but it's on the inside. Because for me personally, my inside is a mess. Every organ inside of me is tangled up inside.

[00:48:54]So, my flares are like you see today I am here. Maybe in the next hour I am down with a high temperature, high fever and everything. So it it works different for everybody with a with um who is a warrior. So we just so that's why we are trying to bring the visibility of lupus outside making people aware that it is invisible but we want to make it visible. Don't watch us on the outside. Listen to our story. Sit down and have a chat with us.

[00:49:27]spend a day with us and you will know.

[00:49:31]>> But you said you said something very interesting though for you personally.

[00:49:35]Your your story is different. Your organs are a mess. What what does that mean?

[00:49:39]>> Okay.

[00:49:41]Um well, >> you don't have to go in much detail.

[00:49:44]>> I will I I will show you in person on my my how my inside is because I have the image of how my inside. So everything is tangled up inside. It's like a sorry it's like a ball. So if I don't you don't know which is which is kidney which is which is gallbladder which is intestine everything is tangled up inside for me because my I fuse I build scar tissue I fuse inside so my own my own my all my organs are fused together I have had many surgeries we try we try to help me to kind of like separate them because the attack for me is so severe that when I flare I cannot pass stool and urine because it it swells so it blocks the the area. So I cannot I cannot do that.

[00:50:36]I have to go to the hospital for them to put the tube up to the top or things.

[00:50:40]Sometime I go days and trying and trying and trying to do that.

[00:50:46]>> Wow. Um, >> so let me ask you this because this is going to be a a tough one for for for for many of our viewers, listeners, this particular program today. Um, but that's the whole idea of doing it is that you can share your story >> to bring visibility and to help those who are probably might be suffering quietly and and you know scared or or or concerned of sharing their story and getting help and so on, you know. Um, in terms of lupus itself and you personally, Lauren, I mean, is that something you've had from from early childhood or is it something you found out later on?

[00:51:25]>> I found out later on is lupus I had. I wasn't too sure what was wrong with me because from early childhood, we would go to the beach like as I told you, we'll go out, we'll do the little hiking. I'm the only one who will come back like a roast chicken. All my face red, my whole body I'll break up in rash everything not knowing well we didn't had no much information of of what is lupus so not knowing that so I would come so I would come home and we'll have all those thing I'll be done for some days I went through a lot of urinal tract infection going by different doctors trying to find out so in my journey of trying to find out when I became a a full secure adult trying to find that's when I got my diagnose It was lupus and it so happened is from Ross University students that in Dr. McIntyre office and Dr. McIntyre asked them to if ask me if I'm willing for them to just do their as doing their little testing to finish and I am thankful for saying yes because I found out exactly from the same time I had the butterfly rash the gentleman said but you have lupus and I like lupus what is lupus and in going >> when you say butter when you say a butterfly rash for for those who what is it is it is it a rash in the in the form of a butterfly >> yes >> that's why it's called butterfly rash >> yes it's a pretty butterfly ly rash that will make a nice shape of a butterfly.

[00:52:48]It's beautiful. It is very beautiful especially for some people with high cheekbones and they have lupus when that rash come out you sure and say it's blush or makeups they put on their on their face but it is so as beautiful as it is it's painful it's very very very painful >> so most of the time that is one of the main tell sign that you have lupus is the butterfly rash you can confirm you have lupus by the by once the butterfly arrives shows up.

[00:53:23]>> Wow. Because I when I was reading last night um I also understood that lupus can be difficult. Um well it can take time for doctors and other healthcare professionals to sort of piece together the symptoms to diagnose what is a complex disease.

[00:53:40]>> So to make a correct diagnosis of of lupus you know is not really easy for a lot of the healthcare professionals. But interesting that you mentioned this butterfly Nigel and um and I see I see D is like shaking in agreement. Was that was that a similar situation with you?

[00:54:00]>> So I've never had the butterfly rash.

[00:54:02]See how different it is? Never had it.

[00:54:05]>> Um and with me I was very sickly as a kid. Um I would pass I would faint during assemblies. We didn't know why.

[00:54:14]Um, I was, as Glorian said, we'd go out and I'd come home in pain because St. Martin Primary and secondary, we did a lot of walks. If you remember, Belm Mache was and I and I went to every Bel Maj. I'd come home in pain and we didn't know why. And then I moved to the US when I was 19, left high school and I was sick a lot of times and I was excruciating pain. Was it excruciating pain or just pain that >> it was body aches like you are it's it's like you got hit by a car but worse >> if I could say it like that or you're getting the flu and you have the body aches but 10 times worse.

[00:54:52]>> Um and for me my diagnosis was very hard. Um it was 2020 and my mom kept telling me that my face doesn't look right and I kept telling her mommy I putting on weight is co we home I just eating and working >> and she's like no like it's not looking right go get to the doctor. I went to every doctor you could imagine every specialist you could imagine. Um and I had a friend who works at the CDC Triiona Henderson. She's from Dominica as well. And she said, "Have them do an ANA testing on you." And I'm like, "What is ANA testing?" She's like, "To see if you have something called shogrins, which is another autoimmune disease."

[00:55:32]And she said, um, because it doesn't sound like lupus, but it might be shogrins because, um, one of the specialists said my salivory glands were blocked. We did the ANA testing and my nosy self got the results on my phone and I was like, let me just go read it before my doctor sees it. And I saw my numbers for Lupus was high and I was at my daughter's school picking her up and I broke down. I called Glorine.

[00:55:58]>> I remember >> Glor was the first person I called.

[00:56:00]>> I was balling because I just I was like I'm expecting sugar greens. I read upon it. I was like, "Okay, I could handle sh greens." But with what I know what um Glorine and Tyer and other people go through, I was like, Lord, I don't want to deal with that. Cannot deal with that. I I don't want that. And it happened to just be so Glorian had to give me some I was drive I had to drive home with my daughter. Glorian had to calm me down >> um give me a little bit of strength and um that's how it began for me. Um my mom my mom called me by mistake walking ro and I told her and she had to sit down and that lady that that lady is my strength.

[00:56:42]She told me listen nothing is going to happen to you. you are going to be fine.

[00:56:48]And I and I can tell you I haven't had a lot of um incidents as Gloren has had where she's had a lot of surgeries and had to be hospitalized a lot. I haven't had that. So, it's different for everybody. When I tell people I have lupus, they're like, "You you have lupus, but you're always in Carnival."

[00:57:06]Little do they know that some days I'm home in my bed, can't even move, can't get up from my bed at all.

[00:57:13]>> Wow.

[00:57:15]This is this is this is inspiring and at the same time it's it's really you know I mean shedding the light and the visibility and the fact that it it it appears differently for everybody. So nobody has the same kind you you might find somebody the same things but at the same time it's it's different for for for for each person. Um what about you Krishna? What was it like for you? How did you find out and how long have you been >> a warrior as as as Gloren calls it >> instead of a survivor? Well, as a child, um, they used to call me crystal failure because I was always sick.

[00:57:49]>> Didn't know why. Um, they told me I was allergic to the sun. I couldn't go do sports. I couldn't do match pass. I couldn't do mashing, nothing. I had a little spot on my skin as a child and nobody knew what it was and it disappeared. Then I was fine. In 2007, I started nursing school in April and mommy, my mother was in the US and she came down and she was like, "Your face black." I was like, "No, man. Mommy, it's the sun."

[00:58:20]>> You know, I'm not worried about that.

[00:58:22]>> I went to Dr. Alport and Dr. Albert said that I think you have lupus because I would go to school with a pair of like sneakers or something and and when I would leave school I couldn't wear the sneakers because my feet were so swollen and I went to all potart and she was like nah and there were other symptoms I had a low grade temperature and stuff and sure I was like no I don't have lupus I you know I didn't take that into consideration >> but when she told you that just questions that asked >> yes >> when she told you that though did you start to like look up you know get some definitions about lupus and you know find out more.

[00:58:55]>> I did.

[00:58:56]>> Okay.

[00:58:56]>> I did and I was like nah I don't have lupus. I was like in denial. I was like I I'm just starting nursing school. This is not going to you know damper my mood.

[00:59:05]I just continued my life. But I had a low gradede temperature for months. And one day I I I went to a wedding on a Saturday and then from I came from the wedding from the Saturday I was in bed. I didn't get up. My cousin took me to the um home on the Monday and he was like go to the hospital where he placed me on the bed on Monday. That's where I stayed. I couldn't pee. My kidneys were shutting down and I realized my kidneys were shutting down when I went to the hospital. Then they carried me to the hospital and where they left me on the bench outside of um at that time it was the old IM reward where they left me on the bench that's where I stayed and one of my instructors at the nursing school where I was attending saw me and they was like now you need to go to the emergency and that was it. I was diagnosed with deni. I was diagnosed with malaria. I was diagnosed with everything until they found out that hey, maybe it's lupus and then I was flown out to Matnik where I got the official diagnosis.

[01:00:11]>> That was in 2007.

[01:00:13]>> From from from what I'm hearing so far and then Rando, we're going to come to you in terms of how you found out. But from what I'm hearing so far, it appears that lupus is not an it's not an easy diagnosis. It's not easy to diagnose someone has lupus. Is that what is that?

[01:00:31]>> Cannot.

[01:00:32]>> Yeah. Because >> because it mimics every other >> illness >> illnesses. So you would think that this is it. Then something else pops up and they would treat this and then something else pops up and they would treat this and like I I tell people like name an organ in my body that and I will tell you what is wrong with it, what lupus has done to it.

[01:00:54]>> Wow.

[01:00:54]>> All my organs are affected.

[01:00:56]>> Wow. And as a nurse, I mean, you you you had to >> How do you deal with that as a nurse knowing that you you know?

[01:01:05]>> Well, actually, um, when I got to the US, I couldn't continue nursing because of my condition.

[01:01:10]>> Okay.

[01:01:11]>> Because >> and especially when COVID happened, there was like mm- you cannot go to the hospital. You cannot be in that environment.

[01:01:19]>> So, I had to switch to my other law, which is counseling.

[01:01:23]>> Wow.

[01:01:24]>> Okay.

[01:01:25]Because from what I'm I'm I'm cuz as I said I did a lot of research on that and I learned so the immune system it mistakenly attacks healthy cells.

[01:01:35]>> Yes.

[01:01:35]>> It's confusing. Yeah. Because it does it by mistake. Healthy cells. Just imagine this.

[01:01:42]>> Yeah.

[01:01:43]>> It is confused.

[01:01:45]>> So like >> so yeah go ahead. Go ahead.

[01:01:48]>> Yeah. So like um what is good for us? So you give me like even for my treatment, you give me the treatment, it's supposed to help me, but the um the the body attacks itself. It's like, okay, I'm putting something good to help me, but no man, that is a foreigner drip that not supposed to be. So it attacks it >> and it destroy. Yes. It doesn't. Yeah.

[01:02:14]>> And it's not just like emotions. If you're too happy, the body will be confused like why is she so happy?

[01:02:20]>> Yeah. and send something >> like the weather >> like right now I have rash all over my body because I'm in New Jersey the weather is kind of bipolar >> and my body don't know what's going on so you be like okay let me send in something you know and we our body >> our body weather maps we can tell you if snow coming if rain coming if we're going to have a dry dry um season we can tell you Yes.

[01:02:50]>> And when we tell you, just look for it.

[01:02:53]>> I I can recall, Nigel. I can recall when we had a glory on a few years ago >> and she was giving her story and I was like, "Wow." You know, because I think you were just about to you had to go overseas to do some I can't recall exactly what it was.

[01:03:08]>> Yes. I had just come out from like from the surgery. Um remember I spend a long time in ICU trying to fight back for my life and thing and that 2020 through co it was a rough time for me real rough time they were not waiting on me but as I say is 150 I go in for so I fighting for my 150 so I fight I bounce back up at the time of the program I was in my way down real down but I'm thankful to the heavenly father I have picked back up myself I I give myself a part on the back of my eye from where I have been to where I am now.

[01:03:51]>> Yes.

[01:03:52]>> Yes. You have seen a lot.

[01:03:55]>> I remember that. I remember you sharing your story and you joined you know let me just bring in Vern while I'm Nigel because she has seen a lot >> and I mean family support is just crucial in all of this. Um >> you spoke about support Ivona and um talking about lupus sometime being a private >> a private battle >> and um support is important. Support is crucial. While some of the or other warriors may not know my name, I know their names. I know their stories. Um I take calls from Gloren every morning.

[01:04:33]Every morning. Um and it's not just a me thing. my husband Charles is involved even my children to support because it it is a unit to provide the support. So if she doesn't call me a morning >> I get worried.

[01:04:48]>> We do the counsel I'm not a counselor meaning that I'm not a trained counselor but I have to sit and listen to hours of talking. Um if her tone is different I have to pick it up. Um I have to remind her if her mood is different, if my dad calls now and say check your sister, something is happening. So it it it calls for the support of the family, not intruding but ensuring that you're always there, always there. and you provide that time. If it's at work at times sometime I have to take a pause because if she calls me if it is not it's not a normal thing that she'll call me during the work hours but if she calls during the work hours then I need to make the time to listen and this that is important and that is key. Um yes >> Lauren is a strong person.

[01:05:42]>> Um I mean >> she has strength.

[01:05:46]I personally I reflect I reflect a lot.

[01:05:49]I reflect every night. It's part of my being and I do not know if I would be able to hold on to all that pain as an individual.

[01:05:59]>> I have seen my sister at her lowest.

[01:06:02]>> Um I don't know if she'd want me to share it. Can I share that? Go right ahead.

[01:06:06]>> It's also um it also affects her mental health at times >> and we had an incident um maybe about a year ago. I had to hunt my sister down in Roso and get her into uh the mental facility cuz she needed it. She was at war with herself. She was at war with me, but I needed to do it. I needed to ensure that it was done and that she did not collapse further.

[01:06:38]And this is what all lupus family members go through. And we have to provide and we have to have the strength through prayers but most importantly through family commitment. And it is important for those of us that have children or even engage with children that we get them involved as well. I have my struggles with my daughter as well who has an autoimmune condition which has not been diagnosed and I pray God I pray God that it is not lupus.

[01:07:13]Amen. But my sister even in that journey she has been instrumental to me because she's knowledgeable. She does her research. She is to us Dr. Thomas. She doesn't need any further medical qualification or training. But Glory knows her stuff, right? And even in pain, even in pain, she supports others, right? She supports others and and that is fascin fascinating and it is real but support you you you support how the support is required. So if it's a day where she just wants me and she would answer questions that's fine and it's a day when I get a hot cocoy that's fine as well right so that has taught me that has taught me and I see um sir I can't see Nigel sir Nigel um smiling but it has taught me to be a different person. I mean I have done psychological first aid. I have done a lot of training on that. But it it gets you to to to understand that support is not always intrusive but support is commitment to always be there. Always be there and allow those around you to provide the support as well. Right? Allow those alone. And sometime it's just a listening ear.

[01:08:44]>> Sometime it's just a listening ear. I mean you can practically put the phone on and let her talk. Sometime I'll be dead tired from work and I'll hear say my sister my sister you gone my sister my sister you gone I said no man go I you know just to get the connection sometime I'm tired as well you know but she needs somebody to speak with she need to just be able to express herself so support for persons with lupus is very important um family support continued support the contin the continuity is presence we We have to ensure that presence >> when they lost um Danica.

[01:09:23]>> Oh god.

[01:09:24]>> Yes. Um I did not know Danica personally. I knew her story but I was at the hospital at that time outside the ICU unit. I left work. I made myself available to be there to support not only my sister but her family as well. I passed Danica cuz mom home. She lives near the government headquarters. And I will not pass without telling her hello mom how are you how are you doing because she has lost and I understand that loss for her you know and it's just important that we show the support. So lupus is very destructive. It is invisible but it is very very very destructive and I just want to encourage persons um to do some more research on it and to provide the support. Um the foundation is small. Sometime I even um battle with with with Gloria say go you're doing too much. You're doing too much because you do and then I know what is going to happen. You're going to go down. You're going to decline. The fever is going to come up. But we need more persons to join the foundation. We need more persons to show their presence. Um we need persons sometime persons with lupus are ashamed of saying that they have lupus and that is the battle that is the private battle that they have or they're not ready yet to share their story. So we need Dominicans to understand the disease, do some more research, connect with the foundation, provide the support that you you you can give and not not only to you lupus but all these diseases that we have faced that we battled with. Yes.

[01:10:58]>> Right. All of them. And um as we said earlier when Gloria and I um started speaking um we were brought up with a a with a within a family that spoke about strong community connection and giving giving to community and country and most importantly giving to family and supporting those that need the support is essential and important. So I really want to encourage us in whatever way we can or or or we can do it. So get in contact with the foundation, show your support, the little that you can do. I think that it will it will help bring the visibility that they need and just the support especially in times of crisis.

[01:11:44]>> I love this man. Um, I've only had something. Maybe we can share the >> I know we don't normally take calls, but there's two people who've been consistently hitting me and telling me I'm a survivor. I need to I want to just share part of my story.

[01:12:00]>> Um, so maybe we can just probably take one or two calls. So you can probably just give the number.

[01:12:05]>> Mhm.

[01:12:05]>> Um, of how they can get in touch.

[01:12:07]>> The international number if you come from overseas, the number is 3054329744.

[01:12:15]Nigel, maybe you'd want to put this on the live.

[01:12:18]>> 305.

[01:12:19]>> Yes.

[01:12:19]>> 3054329744.

[01:12:22]And of course, we have the toll-free number if you're here, 1 800 327. You could also call 4483279.

[01:12:31]And um once you're giving numbers as well um a member of this of the foundation as well can also put their number and um their address or anybody that they can contact because as I said from the onset we want this to not just be a discussion about lupus but we want to see if we can form a movement to provide help to the foundation.

[01:12:50]>> Yes.

[01:12:50]>> Okay. So >> so saffress Matthew um you got the number um so you can call now >> um my owner will take your call and you can share your story. Um >> yeah sure okay let me give you the foundation I want to share my stuff >> okay give us the number >> 76 767 276518 that's the found lupus foundation of dominated >> 767 >> 276 >> 276 >> 0518 >> 0518 >> Yes.

[01:13:21]>> So you get directly the foundation. So that's the numbers for the foundation and you also got the numbers those of you who want to call >> to share your story or to lend your support. The foundation is looking though not me you have to call you.

[01:13:36]>> Can I say something while we're waiting?

[01:13:38]>> Sure. Of course. Go ahead.

[01:13:40]>> Um one thing I would like to let the public know as well is Lupus Glorine says it all the time. Lupus likes friends.

[01:13:50]>> So lupus doesn't come with lupus alone.

[01:13:52]Lupus brings a friend. Fibromyalgia, arthritis, it brings different friends with it when it comes. So sometimes you'll have lupus now. And as a sister mentioned, it made me cry. Um the mental part because 2024, I had a basically a mental breakdown.

[01:14:11]Can't tell you, my doctors cannot tell you why, what happened, what caused it.

[01:14:16]Um, and I begged my spouse to have me be checked in into a psychiatric hospital and he would not. He would not let me.

[01:14:25]He would not let me go. Um, I had to call my mom in Dominique and my sister and I would cry. I would ball to them. I tell him, "I can't do this no more." And my my psychiatrist was trying. He he tried different meds. Nothing was working. There were days I would sit here and I would shake for hours like just shake. And nobody could tell me why. And thank God for him because he would tell me, "Let's go to the ER."

[01:14:50]Because I was like, "Let's call 911."

[01:14:51]He's like, "The gonna do nothing for you. Let's go to the ER." And immediately when I get there, they would take me and knock me out immediately.

[01:14:58]Give me drugs to knock me clean out. Um, and it went on from April to August. I suffered miserably. I felt like I was in a like Groundhog Day. I kept reliving the day every single day. And I have a time she was 12year-old little girl who was looking at me and seeing her mom like this and I didn't want to see have her see me and I wanted to die. I'm not I'm going to be very honest I wanted to die but my mother was praying on the phone with me. I had friends who were supporting um when my spouse left for work he would check in on me every second just to make sure I was here. Um and finally my doctor just said one day did we try this meds? And I was like no. and he's like, "Let's try this medication." And he gave it to me and from then I have been better mentally. So there's little things that just happens and just like shifts your whole life and you're wondering what's going on. Also too, I was just diagnosed with hypothyroidism in December.

[01:15:58]Um so now I have to see an endocrinologist for thyroid because I have thyroid issues. I have to see a kidney specialist. I have to see a cardiologist. Um, so it brings a lot of different illnesses with it. It's not just lupus by itself. It's lupus with everything else. As Krishna said, Crystal File, that's my name. My friends used to they still make jokes. We should put you in a bubble. I wish I mean it it's hard. It is very hard. It is hard when you cannot do anything for yourself. When you're known to get up and go feed feed yourself or bathe yourself. There are some days I cannot do that and people don't understand because they'll tell you, "Oh, you always outside?" Yeah, when I can go outside, I go outside. When I can't, I'm stuck.

[01:16:46]>> Wow.

[01:16:48]>> Do any of any of you do you have like certain triggers? Um, you just try to avoid >> um I guess it will come, but you just Yes. Stress is the Yes. We try to live our life as happy and stressful as we stress free as we can >> and knowing our signs of different things. So like >> somebody will invite you don't to a to a event we have to figure it out and tell you but some people takes it bad when you tell them you cannot come. But >> I come into that event. Yes, I'm happy.

[01:17:24]I'm joyful. But >> I am down in the hospital for like 4 months just coming to that one event.

[01:17:31]>> So we have to choose and pick whatever we can do we cannot do in those things.

[01:17:37]So that's our little help to know what triggers what. As Denise was saying with the mental and the thing I myself am thankful for Mr. the guide. He have brought me a long long way.

[01:17:53]>> That's our guest Elijah last week. Was he a long way?

[01:17:58]>> Yes. Um >> I know he say he like to keep his patience private but as I tell him privacy for me on those things there is no is a no no. I am open to help and I am open to people knowing that he helped me and he have he have mentally I'm in a safe space right now. I can see that I'm in a much safer place >> and I can I can share with you right the connection to Lester came through me but I had to give her time to I had to give her the time I gave her the name I gave her the person I give her the number and I got many questions and then I I called him I said listen I've given him given her the information allow her the time to make the decision I'm happy that she did and I'm I'm thankful that he's a great support to her He's he's a grammar school one as well.

[01:18:49]>> Yes, he went to the grammar school.

[01:18:50]>> He goes of the schools. Yes.

[01:18:52]>> Yes. Grammar school has produced great students and great, you know, so we appreciate school for >> as they putting out schools. Um is not Dennis and I went to St. Martin Primary School.

[01:19:06]I went to Goodwill Secondary. Yes, I went to Secondary, but the primary school I went to the primary school as well. So we're going into all the schools.

[01:19:15]>> Thank you. So um there's something I also want to share on my personal journey with lupus also that most people don't wouldn't would find it impossible and maybe think but the case for me in like sometime I have to go down to wearing adult pampers people won't know you understand but it will be that for me that's how my flare can be so terrible that for me to even leave my home I have to have have this on for me to to to be able to come down to do any little thing. I also my mobility for walking I had a cane at a certain time I had to learn back how to walk properly and strengthen myself. As I told you with Mr. Leester guide I mentally he just put me in the right place the right set the right the timing was perfect. As I always say, every disappointment in life is a blessing. I don't look at my illness as a disappointment. I look it as a blessing because with me I have brought back so much things to Dominica.

[01:20:25]The knowledge I have going out to get all the different testing I had to because in the beginning we were not doing none of those testing in Dominica.

[01:20:33]So we had to go out in doing it. I bring it back to the doctors and then and to the labs. I tell look into that because it's costly to have to you have to go and do special um ANA test and those to have to pay a boat ticket to go to St. Lucia to get those tests done.

[01:20:48]>> So right now it we have improved so far even the hospital right now is doing those tests some of the tests. So our country have >> with just a little foundation and a little knowledge we know and we pass it on it have improved >> better for health some health care system for us in Dominica. Nigel, >> are you strength? And what you guys have done without even knowing is that um I mean there's so many people who are on, you know, on on the Facebook page and the YouTube >> who are now sharing >> that they also have lupus and thank you for sharing and talking about their journey >> and you know how they can get in touch with the foundation. They want to know if there's an email address if there's a website.

[01:21:32]>> I put the email already.

[01:21:34]>> Okay. So put the beautiful >> I put the email in the chat. Um, I want to say that Gloren has brought strength to all of us.

[01:21:42]>> Gloren will be having bad days and she will still check on me >> and I will it it it it be so weird because I don't know how she know that I'm having a bad day but she will check in and I admire her for that. I want to also shout out Rayma Francis who is in Dominica who has lupus. That's another loopy warrior nona um Tyer heal in Canada. These are people who are like a little our little support system who are always like we check on each other now and then just to make sure that hey I haven't heard from you in a while are you doing okay? Um and they will be like no I was in hospital for 3 days and I'm like what what's going on? So it's a it's it's we have our own little system.

[01:22:27]>> Yes. Yes. Um, and it we bring each other strength because when I tell you some people do not understand, they just do not understand.

[01:22:37]>> You might have heard me earlier when I talked about Sharon St. Rose and her daughter Kayla and Stanley.

[01:22:42]>> Yes.

[01:22:42]>> Um, you know, I'm not sure if you know them, but of course they are in Atlanta.

[01:22:46]Well, >> so um I'm sure get in touch with D. You know, you can build build that support circle cuz yeah, you know, their daughter has lupus. She's doing very well by the way. um you know in terms of going through what she has and still doing everything that she has to do know through college and everything else. So good morning game to you Kayla.

[01:23:04]>> Yeah. Let me just give the the number again before.

[01:23:08]>> Yes. Give the number again.

[01:23:09]>> Well 4483284.

[01:23:11]You could also call 1 800 327. So 448 3284 or 1800 327. If you're calling from overseas the number is 304. So there's a one before it. 304 >> 305 >> 305 305. My My apologies. 4329744.

[01:23:33]Right. 305 4329744.

[01:23:36]Nigel, let's take some comments as well on >> Yes. Um lots of comments. Um Lesa Lissa John Baptist who is also a survivor. She wants to thank God for gloring and for nona donor Giana Elwin for the support on my lupus journey. Early key safes Matthew I'm listening. I'm a lupus survivor. Thank you for sharing. Jia Smith, uh good morning all. Keep the fight. Don't give up. Lupus warriors.

[01:24:04]Blaine Robin. Um >> from England.

[01:24:08]>> Um Corali Lauren says, "Hi everyone.

[01:24:10]This is Simone's mother. Hi Gloren.

[01:24:14]thanks for everything that you do.

[01:24:15]Josephine John Lewis, of course, John Lewis is always there. Wants to say good morning. Thank you so much for sharing.

[01:24:22]Sh wants to ask about um sclerodma, I think. I hope that's how it's pronounced.

[01:24:30]>> That's another disease.

[01:24:33]>> Yes.

[01:24:33]>> Um so she was asking does it also is it um related to lupus? Let's take a pin there. There's someone on the line.

[01:24:41]Let's let's take this call. pick that call.

[01:24:44]>> All right. Hello.

[01:24:47]Hello.

[01:24:50]Hello. Let's try again. Hello.

[01:24:51]>> Hello.

[01:24:52]>> Yes, you're on. Go ahead. Thanks for calling here.

[01:24:55]>> Okay. I just calling just to give a little support. Hey, that's >> and to and to just say that Glory is a model and so are all the lupus patients we have in Dominica at the moment.

[01:25:10]I want to in to to tell them that they have the support of my family. Not that we only there for gloring but we there for every lupus patient and we'll continue you know working along with them >> even glorin is present or not >> you know we are ourselves we I said present I mean when I say present present or not able to come to a meeting able to come to something >> that our support will always be there >> in whatever way that we Okay, >> I you talk about your 150 years. Bear in mind I 250 going already.

[01:25:51]>> So let us give let's give thanks and praise to the heavenly father for everything that he has done for her and for all of us.

[01:25:59]>> Thank you. Thank you so much. Byebye.

[01:26:00]>> Okay from in a while Nigel but I just had to to bring this in although he's not made to bring it in but I mean as as I heard um Glorin's father and Glorin too you know I mean there is a strong strong a family. They're very tight. They're very close. The mother was very vibrant, you know, back in the day. And of course, right now, you know, things are different. So, I guess that is even an added pressure on on on Gloren, but um you know, your faith is strong.

[01:26:28]>> Yeah.

[01:26:29]>> Strengthen the family and faith, you know, it's very important. Um now, um Gloin says, "Listening to my lupus loop sisters makes me my strength even more.

[01:26:40]We fry them. Love you guys." D sugar.

[01:26:43]Okay. The sugar is nice.

[01:26:47]>> Okay. All right. The sugar. We're back.

[01:26:49]Um and of course the sugar that's going to call it from now on has also put the email address for the Lucas Foundation.

[01:26:57]It's lupas [email protected].

[01:27:00]So [email protected].

[01:27:03]Glenda Shillings Pitches, good morning to you. Um thanks God for the availability to help in different areas.

[01:27:09]Muriel Scott, good morning. Um let's see let's see let's see let's seeam um Kamasha Kamasha Kamasha Kamasha Lloyd sending love and support to my sister Krishna okay your sister wants to wish you all the best we love you always be here for you um Jennifer Joseph you guys are amazing and strong continued strength to you all um of course um Shannis good morning to you as well appreciate all the strength that's been sent out to to to to to you guys. Um, >> let's hear from a little. We haven't heard from her for at least a few minutes now. Krishna, I'm not sure if you just want to jump in and, you know, just say anything that we can as well learn from.

[01:27:54]>> Um, what I can say is what Lauren said, family and support, because if it wasn't for my family, I don't think I would have been here. And you know, um, I guess it's getting better, but you're from the Caribbean. You don't believe in therapy. You don't believe in counseling. You don't believe in mental health because you have everything going for you. What you have to complain about? What you depressed about? You have a job, you have food on your plate, um, everything. What you depressed about?

[01:28:27]I went through depression and anxiety that I started getting panic attacks that where I live was too small for me.

[01:28:36]I had to go out in the streets, go walking, do something something something.

[01:28:40]>> Then I had to get therapy and then I realized there are some things that I needed to work on and my anxiety came from I don't know what's going to happen. Am I going to die next month? Am I going to get something that, >> you know, that's going to kill me?

[01:28:56]especially during lupus. Am I going to get um COVID? Am I going to get COVID and end up on a ventilator and not get off and look the hand virus out there?

[01:29:08]>> Am I going to get and not you know kind of >> so it's a lot of little things that will give you anxiety that will make your brain just especially with lupus it will just go a whole different way. So it's important that you have people that you can speak to, people that will not be like she talking too much or she always complaining about something or you know they'll be looking at you like that kind of way. But it's important that you have people that you can speak to, people that will listen to you, people that would encourage you, people that would be always there for you um when you going through those things, especially with lupus.

[01:29:55]>> Yeah.

[01:29:55]>> And my little circle will be comparing illnesses, symptoms.

[01:30:00]>> Yes.

[01:30:02]>> And we we have a little dark humor. So we >> do. Yes.

[01:30:09]Wow.

[01:30:11]>> I mean the fact that you guys are all mentioning that I mean and something we know lupus is invisible in that sense.

[01:30:17]Um how do you kind of react to those who probably see you and say well boy you're looking good you can't you don't have lup you don't have lupus cuz they don't really know what is lupus. How how how do you respond to people like that?

[01:30:33]>> Education.

[01:30:34]>> Okay. and ask.

[01:30:38]>> I did some research last night and I was just overwhelmed with all what is there.

[01:30:44]>> A lot of information.

[01:30:44]>> Let's go to the telephone quickly. Let's see.

[01:30:47]>> Yes.

[01:30:48]>> Hello.

[01:30:49]>> Hey, morning miss I and Nigel.

[01:30:52]>> Yeah. To you as well.

[01:30:53]>> Morning. Morning.

[01:30:54]>> Morning.

[01:30:54]>> And the guest, the people, the ladies.

[01:30:58]>> Good morning.

[01:30:58]>> Good morning.

[01:30:59]>> I want to ask a Yes. My name is Ronnie.

[01:31:02]I want to ask a question.

[01:31:04]Do the lupus attack men?

[01:31:07]>> Yes, it does.

[01:31:09]>> Okay. Okay. Um I just want to give you a little strength and um I would a talk a while ago there that is the education process.

[01:31:19]I'm would want to find out if all you get the opportunity to build a lupus health center would want to go at it to educate the people because this is a very sensitive um sickness because if you listen you said from you had get it early on there was not a doctor to really identify it is the the the student from Russ and then you had to travel all the way to St. producer for such a course and look at how advanced we we have been in technology in in building in in training people because I remember in 1980 the people of Maragot construct their own hospital that's the one that broke down not too long and it was self built by the people so if only get the opportunity to build a lupus hospital if all would go at And I'm I having a program on Kyrie FM on Sunday afternoon after 2 and I'm speaking on natural medicine health. I deal with herbs and I was asking the the the authority to >> we have to begin to wrap up here. We get your question we have quite a few guests on.

[01:32:38]>> Yeah. Yeah. No, I was just telling you having a program on on Kyrie speaking all about that and I was asking the people in authority to give the public more education even with medical doctors to come on board and always educate the people like what you do I have a good day.

[01:32:55]>> All right. Okay.

[01:32:56]>> Thank you.

[01:32:56]>> Thank you very much. Um yes if we get the opportunity we are willing to do that because education is key and having help for your people in your own country especially because even with doing anything center for lupus it will not only help lupus patient but if anybody with all the similar illness to lupus because as Dennis said it don't come by itself I am diagnosed with over 15 different auto illness. Wow.

[01:33:27]>> illnesses.

[01:33:28]>> And they attack sometime all at the same time.

[01:33:31]>> Wow.

[01:33:32]>> And sometimes this one I can I can tell you plainly. Okay. Today is that one and that one.

[01:33:36]>> It's like a conundrum, man.

[01:33:38]>> This one and this one. But sometime when all come together, it's like let's see which one can be glory >> be the best person. And as as we are there with that, I also want to apologize to certain to people in Dominic County because sometime >> the mood >> Yeah.

[01:33:57]It's not the best. I will tell it to you personally. But I as I'm trying to tell people to understand me, it's not my fault.

[01:34:04]>> It's not my thing. Growing up, we didn't I didn't even It was always, but I didn't know it was that that was causing that. I can be nice and all of a sudden >> you talk to me, it's like you're irritating me.

[01:34:17]>> You irritating me. So, I will just dismiss you, >> but it's not it's not something I can I try my best to control it. So like when I'm in that mood, I don't leave my home because I don't want nobody to feel bad or feel anything. Yeah. So I just stay. It's >> interesting that you mentioned that like when that happens, you don't leave your home. Because I wanted to ask each of you um how what activities um or routines will help you manage your symptoms. Um if you understand exactly what I'm asking, you go with the flu.

[01:34:49]You go with the flu. It routine you just go with the flow today and it's that you can do you do this if tomorrow you might not be able to do it >> to do it. Yeah.

[01:35:03]>> But I mean along with with what I was asking as well do you >> are there signs that you know that that that that tells you you about to get an attack or or or >> my sign is fever.

[01:35:18]>> Okay.

[01:35:19]>> Yeah. Yeah. So it's different depending on who, right? Mine is bodyachches.

[01:35:22]>> Mine is bodyaches, yours is fever.

[01:35:25]>> But bodyach swelling >> and sometime I get up in the morning >> and like I'm feeling my body is in a whole different >> world.

[01:35:36]>> So I know something is coming.

[01:35:38]>> But but do you have any like um go to I would say comfort strategies when you are in a flare?

[01:35:47]How how do you deal with this when you're in a player? Any one of you can answer.

[01:35:51]>> I sleep.

[01:35:52]>> You sleep?

[01:35:54]>> Yes.

[01:35:54]>> I don't deal with people. If anything, I just stay away.

[01:35:58]>> Our sanctuary is our bedroom. So, we go inside there.

[01:36:03]>> Yeah. Thank you.

[01:36:03]>> And we close ourself out and we we sleep.

[01:36:07]>> Say it again. Glory. Please.

[01:36:10]>> You can understand. I don't sleep. So, insomnia is a problem for me. So, like some people can't sleep. I have insomnia. I don't sleep. So, I will probably get >> um um I'll probably get no sleep. I'll be up for 24 hours. My spouse will go to bed. He wake up and ask me, "Wait, you still up?" And I'll be like, "Yeah." And he look at me like, "What?" So, it's hard. And I have a sister. I'm a shout Donell blah back home. My sister is my strength as well. As far as she is right there, I will message her and she'll be up with me too cuz she have insomnia.

[01:36:43]But she will help me. She will if I if I'm crying and I'm like I this is frustrating and she will give me some words of encouragement or tell me to pray or or she's made me get into playing on the Switch um for the Nintendo Switch so I could relax um because insomnia is really bad. Um, one of the things I want to to say, I don't know if Dominica has a rheatologist.

[01:37:07]That's what Dominica needs, a specific rheumatologist specialized in being able to to to to tell these illnesses and what's going on to make sure that we do the right testing. A lot of what Dominica has are general practitioners. We need a specialist for that. Another thing my doctor just decided to do, my psychiatrist, is something called gene testing. Um, and what he did is it's it's like a DNA sample. I had to swab inside of my mouth and send it off. And I'm still waiting on the results. I I don't want the results, but I want them.

[01:37:39]But his reason for it is he's like, "Why is none of the medications are not working for you? Like, you should be the medication I give you to sleep should knock you out. It'll knock a normal person out. I have to give you twice as much and you're still up." Like, why?

[01:37:54]He's he's concerned. So what he did is let's do the gene testing so we can figure out if it's a metabolism issue cuz it's an absorption issue. It's a metabolism issue while the medication is not working and it's not making you get some rest cuz rest is important. If you don't sleep you get a flare up.

[01:38:12]>> Yeah. I went for about 5 years of insomnia >> also not sleeping >> up 24/7 for that >> I cannot tell you exactly how it went about how it it the pattern changed but I know I've tried every medicine everything under the face of the earth and all of a sudden it just >> I could sleep >> well come and sleep by me >> but but um Nigel I'm I'm really liking this program. I mean, it's an educational piece there today and um so we allowing our guests to already guide the depth of the conversation. Um >> yes, >> cuz it's their story and their journey and they, you know, have the symptoms and they know what they're going through and everything else. So, it's really their program, you know. Um do we have any idea as to how many people in Dominica may have lupus does the foundation have like a directory or >> any stats on that? That may be difficult though.

[01:39:21]>> I glad you asked that question.

[01:39:23]>> Some years back I did my own little personal s survey which I got about 500.

[01:39:29]I know for now it have plenty more because get being in contact with different persons and new people tell us but right now we on the process of doing a proper survey islandwide. We put in a prop a proposal to a international body.

[01:39:45]So they are going to help us to fund it to do a proper survey so we can have correct figures and database information on the person the number of people with lupus in Dominica per ratio because even with our death rate right now with lupus with people we know that dying with lupus for a small population it is too high.

[01:40:10]Is there a partner organization as well that maybe in the in the region or further field that >> we we do um collaborate with the other lupus foundations in the Caribbean in certain things we do with them but it's not like ever so often but um so that's what we for here now that's what we're trying to do and bringing out the information out of the the awareness of lupus and giving you because right Now there are plenty new symptoms for you to look out for that can determine that you have lupus. You will find it so strange now that before it was fatigue, joint pain and rash. You can have um let me put it simply your finger can be bothering you for the whole day or the whole time and in doing your testing and doing your other things you found out you can find out is lupus.

[01:41:07]>> Lupus, >> right? So right now >> yes it's a whole new set of symptoms. It was there already but it's more prevalent in people that are being diagnosed now.

[01:41:18]>> I know along with what you you you mentioned in terms of getting the data getting the statistics and everything else. I know Ron you asked a question in terms of males and where it affects female more than males. So that's probably something you will find out in your research as well.

[01:41:31]>> Yes.

[01:41:32]>> I want to say something.

[01:41:34]>> Yes. Go ahead. A lot of the people in Dominica are scared to come out and say they have lupus because of some stigma.

[01:41:39]>> Why do you think that's true though? Why attach to it?

[01:41:42]>> Because a lot of people don't know what lupus is. So they would say, "Oh, it's cancer. Oh, it's it's this, it's that, that kind of thing." So a lot of people don't come out and say that, "Hey, I have lupus." You know, >> we we have had people that have lupus, they're taking medication, but or they don't want to take medication and we ask them to, you know, join speak to us, join the organization or just speak to us on the side and they will be like no because they don't want people to know that they have lupus. May it be because of their job, because of their family, because of community, I don't know, or just not wanting people to know that they have a condition. I don't consider lipos to be a a disease. It's a condition.

[01:42:26]>> They have a condition and they don't want anybody to know that they have a condition. So >> judge mental.

[01:42:35]>> Yeah. People judge you.

[01:42:37]>> People judge you a lot. Yeah. Did you find that happening as well? And when you had >> people judge you a lot. People ask me all the time like um oh I see you out cuz my Facebook I I would and I don't post the day off but oh I see you out.

[01:42:50]how you sick and I I'll be sick the next day. Sometimes I'll go out and the next day I am sick cannot move and I will tell a friend, oh I'm not feeling well today. Oh you always sick but you was just out last night.

[01:43:04]>> If you understood and if you could understand my body it it it's sometimes I don't tell people I'm sick. I won't say anything to some people. How are you? I'm fine and I keep it moving because it's a lot of a whole lot of judgment from people like how are you sick and you out because >> of my life >> you have to take advantage of the good days.

[01:43:25]>> Yeah, that's true.

[01:43:27]>> Do you um Yes.

[01:43:31]>> in providing support you would hear from our lupus warriors who are sharing the amount of days that they may have downtime. So that is why I really advocate for those of us that are more able to provide a support to them because I see the toll on gloring at times just planning for the month of app activities and she would call and say listen Glory you know you're not going to be able to do all of those things let us cut down you know some of the activities one or two things three things or so but they want to to ensure that lupus is visible so persons who are able that can provide the support because for example they're going to have a walk most of them are not able to do the walk >> even as short as the walk might be >> so we have to walk for them you know so I really want to encourage persons um the family but not just the family the friends you know I I I am making a plea to community community to respond for lupus because I think that's what we need the type of disease the type of condition and I'm going Let me say the condition because of all the friends that it brings with it. The type of condition that um lupus is that if we can get persons who are able to provide the support, do the work for them, do the work in their own, do the work um you know to provide the support and the awareness because they need it. The the willingness is there but it takes a toll. So I really a fundraising initiative. Do you raise funds as well?

[01:45:03]Well, with the cost um we try to raise funds the same day too. We have a registration that if you which will it's $35. It will include a t-shirt in it. Um >> $35 and plus a t-shirt.

[01:45:16]>> No, it Yes, it's included t-shirt in it.

[01:45:19]Um but we if you know you don't want to register, you can make a donation, but come on the walk with us. It's May 30th, Saturday, May 30th at 4:00. We starting from Lindo Park. We go down Federation Drive. We go into independent street then we go we bend into king Joseph free street when we go we reach to the gardens it's a little short walk because for other years where other groups had organized walks for us it was from the distance as soon as we finished do the walk with three four days in the hospital you can you can look for us in the hospital after that walk for sure not this one here but those other long walks any long activity look for us at the hospital you can come and visit us the next day we're giving you an open invitation people. So we're trying to do just a little short just something just to show the impact of it and after um BPW which is also always with users and and supporting us we'll have a little small exercising session workout session for the people that can do it after that work for us. We won't be we person with the um as warriors might will not intake of the ner workout session. it will be a little too much on our body. So we're encouraging everybody even though you cannot come on the day we'll have our donation box wear your purple and come out and and and support us. Let us make lupus visible.

[01:46:43]>> visible.

[01:46:44]>> Let us make it visible. And as we say with the film, make lupus visible.

[01:46:48]Strive for change is little baby walks.

[01:46:51]>> I'm thinking as well, Nigel. I mean, we already know that the cost of healthcare is exorbitant. It's a lot. And so just imagine, you know, lupus and when you understand what lupus is and it affects, you know, the main organs and things like that.

[01:47:05]>> Um, help is needed. Definitely financial assistance is needed. It is it it definitely is and we hope that you know through this program and others that the awareness can be can can be heightened and that you know contributions can be made and donations can be made to assist the foundation in the best way that you can.

[01:47:24]>> Is there a bank account to share the bank account information?

[01:47:30]Yes.

[01:47:32]>> Um we do have >> I'll type it in.

[01:47:34]>> Yes. Yes. Okay. Yes.

[01:47:37]>> But you can still say you can still give it to Yes. For national bank account if you um our mobile banking ID is 5553179.

[01:47:49]The account number is 154 0486.

[01:47:56]So those of us of us who are here in Dominica can do the mobile banking or the others can do direct deposit to the straight to the bank account number.

[01:48:06]>> Give me the account number again though.

[01:48:08]>> Yes.

[01:48:10]154486 and to say that the foundation um help people um in terms of um support for some of their medications, some of their doctor visits as well.

[01:48:25]>> Yeah. And um just recently we or one of our members we um paid for their ticket to go to St. Lucia to see the rheumatologist and on that that is one of our goal have always been our goal to have a rheatologist visit Dominica.

[01:48:41]We're still aiming for that >> to bring her in but for the time being we are we are going to work with another doctor here so they can do tella health through that rheumatologist in Dominica. So the lady that's how we can do it now. So we're going to to do it but so far we most persons don't really have to travel as I say to St. Lucia. She does um tell her health but after she do it if you really need to she will ask you to come now but when we start with the collaboration with the other doctor in Dominica you would no longer need to go. So the doctor will do whatever she have to do here for you and it will that will be a cost effective way to us to save. So, so I will I will state that whilst I'm not here in my capacity for the Ministry of Health, but it will be remiss of me not to state that our government has recognized the importance of having a rheatologist and there have been 26 new specialist medical position which has recently been created and one of those positions is a rattologist.

[01:49:47]So, we are actively looking in ensuring that we provide that support um to all citizens. So, that is what I would say in that capacity.

[01:49:57]I like how you brought that in. I like how you brought that in.

[01:50:02]>> Someone was asking earlier um I guess just for information. They wanted to know whether there's any particular diet or foods that you would have to avoid or you eat that's going to give you flu. I guess that's different for each person, right? Or or is it different?

[01:50:19]>> I'm looking at >> he's laughing that was looking all over.

[01:50:23]>> Yes. of challenges already. As my my grandmother challenges, >> as my grandmother Min used to say, I don't die yet.

[01:50:33]>> I always tell my body too rude for it to tell me what not to eat. Yes.

[01:50:40]>> And then the other thing the person was asking another question earlier on was in terms of um does the medication pro does the medication give you weight loss or does it actually increase your weight?

[01:50:52]>> I don't know. So >> everybody's >> Yeah, >> it's different.

[01:50:57]>> Which is a blessing and a steroid >> will should make you gain weight.

[01:51:05]>> Okay. So it all varies. Okay. It's a steroid.

[01:51:10]>> Yes. And like for um well for me I was fortunate enough because I because of all my condition and I had to go to the United States to get treatment and thing I end up on chemotherapy treatment.

[01:51:28]>> So that's my main treatment to help me deal with my symptoms and my flares and everything. So that is one of the simp that's one of the thing you have the the it's like right yeah you get to to do but we don't really have it here in Dominica the type of treatment that I am taking because it's a low dose um of the chemotherapy so that is one of the thing we with the survey if we do the survey and we get the data we can write to the international lupus fun um bodies so they can see how they can facilate us with the new technologies and the new medicines to bring them down through the government through the central medical.

[01:52:13]We will work with the central medical um organization in the hospital so we can get it down to Dominica so our people here with lupus can be on the new type of drugs and medication and they have >> Amen.

[01:52:29]How do you deal? How do you have moments when you're like, man, this is too much?

[01:52:34]Um, >> yeah.

[01:52:36]>> How do you deal with those moments?

[01:52:38]>> Not take my meds, >> cry. Is that bad >> to hell with everybody?

[01:52:43]>> Yeah. That part, that part right there.

[01:52:45]>> I answer the phone.

[01:52:47]>> You just like shut off, right? You just shut just shut down from every shut down and you or you get the phone call for hours and the repeats >> the repeats the repeats. But most importantly, right, you cannot judge.

[01:53:00]You just have to stay in silence >> and respond >> and that listen.

[01:53:05]>> And that's >> and that is what's important because somebody's always asking you, did you take this? Did you take this? Did you try this? And I'm like, >> oh my god, I I I know what to take. Like it's not working.

[01:53:18]>> That's right.

[01:53:18]>> I just want to I just I just want to vent. I just want to tell you what's going on. And I I don't want you to be my doctor cuz I have many I have a lot >> in my >> I just need to tell you this is what's happening right now. I Nothing works for me. Nothing. No medication works for me right now for none of my The only medication right now that's working for me is for my thyroid. That's the only medication. Nothing else works. Not the sleep meds, not the steroids, not not not nothing.

[01:53:49]>> I have a high I have um high blood pressure as well. Like it is a lot. It is um life is just lifing >> and you have to smile for it.

[01:54:00]>> Yeah.

[01:54:01]>> So that is why the the people who provide the support to sometimes they even need support and >> that's why we said at the beginning Nigel um >> the questions even the support that you give it should be more supportive than intrusive. You too have to condition your mind when you're going to provide support, you know, >> um the things that you say, the questions that you ask.

[01:54:23]>> Very correct.

[01:54:24]>> And sometimes you just have to stay silent and just be there.

[01:54:27]>> Very correct.

[01:54:28]>> As a I encourage those that give support, if they can do psychological first aid, if they have the opportunity to do that, that would be a very good course. Um where they learn to to support without questioning, to support without intruding, you know, and you need a good support system. Yeah.

[01:54:45]because I mean my husband maybe Gloren talks to Charles maybe sometime more than me at times right and so you need a good support system but I I have realized that as I said I reflect a lot I have realized that we have to work out what is important not just choose challenges >> but right now as I see it our mission is to support and to provide continued commitment to family >> and if we are within that space where we understand that that is part of our journey >> then I think that we'll be able to provide what it is bring those that you can >> with you >> and advocate advocate so persons will be able to to understand the disease understand the condition understand lupus understand not to be judgmental and know for yourself because I have a colleague work that say Mrs. that's a lot for you. No, that's a lot for you. That's a lot for you. And I said, but I need to provide it. Right.

[01:55:53]So I I at times need to understand that at certain times I need to get the support, you know, or even wind down as well, >> you know? So it is important. But if we >> if we look at continue continuing building community and providing the support that you need >> and I've known my sister for a very long time, right? She's one year less than a year, right?

[01:56:17]a little greedy. So she she said she's 25 plus. So she's less than a year. We are April 2nd, April 26, >> year apart.

[01:56:26]>> Right? And I know that at times persons will tell me your sister rough, your sister harsh, your sister this, your sister that.

[01:56:34]>> But if you understand the pain that my sister have to bear, >> or you realize the days that she's down, you know, even at times when when daddy will call and say, "I didn't like how um um um go dealt to if we've got you." I say, "Daddy, she's in pain. you you realize that she most likely is in pain.

[01:56:57]Where is she? She she in her room. She by herself. She's in pain. Right. And sometime you have to withdraw. Sometime you have to know where to just give her the time >> and let her be.

[01:57:09]>> Yeah. Definitely. I'm happy that you're saying this Vernand and just brings to mind as well. So sometimes there are people who go to visit you know people at the hospital >> and um they just don't know what to say or they say the very wrong things.

[01:57:21]>> Yes. And Yes.

[01:57:23]>> It's something it's very that is very common in Dominica.

[01:57:27]>> And and the things that some people tell you when you are when you're not well, >> some of them maybe don't know better, but some of them should know better.

[01:57:34]>> Yes.

[01:57:35]>> It's >> wow.

[01:57:36]>> I want to share a story with you. You're just not ready for you don't want to hear.

[01:57:41]>> You don't want to hear.

[01:57:42]>> Yeah. The Exactly.

[01:57:43]>> Yeah. The main thing is that Oh, I have a cure for lupus.

[01:57:47]>> That's what I was telling. But >> yes, yes, bush. I'm not saying we cannot have a care but the heavenly father if he had a care um he wouldn't choose me alone he will choose all of us I that's how I answer them sometime because oh I cure that person with lupus there's remission and that's what people have to understand we can go for remission but that is not a cure because after remission if sometime it comes back I went for remission and then after came >> stress >> the stress level it came back the impact of the lupus that's when it destroyed me even further.

[01:58:26]>> So you can go to rem remission but remission is not a care. You still have to do your testing. You still have to do your thing. You still have to go on a low dose of medication. I am happy for everybody with lupus that is going through remission because I know what they are going through. I would like for for me to reach that stage again and I'm working towards that. But it's not a cure until we working into the because they found the real gene that is causing the lupus right now. So you to have lupus. So they're working on to see if and I'm praying that a day that they can get get that >> and get a care for everybody. So the suffering won't but even with the care for lupus remember I have 15 auto illnesses damage that it has already caused >> and the damage it already caused. So it's like for me I cannot do no more surgery.

[01:59:21]>> So we cannot untangle the organs. So I'll always have the days where I cannot pass urine, I cannot pass stole. So because we cannot separate the organs anymore.

[01:59:30]>> So it will always be like that for me until I reach my 150. But I'll still be strong and young and good.

[01:59:38]That's my my >> one thing I want to say is we're not looking for sympathy because somebody said that to me once. We're not looking for sympathy at all. We want empathy because sympathy is I can give that to myself. We want empathy so you can understand that today is a challenging day >> and I cannot make it to an event or to your birthday party or to your birthday dinner because I I'm just I can't >> I would love to speak to you today.

[02:00:05]>> Oh, I cannot speak. Yes. And and thank God I have some friends um that will know if I don't answer they will not take it personally at all. But there are some others who will take it personally that you answer the next day, not knowing that I was in the bed, couldn't move.

[02:00:23]>> Yeah. No.

[02:00:24]>> And you also have to have a partner that is very supportive cuz if you don't, that is additional stress on you.

[02:00:30]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[02:00:33]>> Stress seems to be one of those things that can create that can and get the fires going as well, you know.

[02:00:38]>> Yeah. Stress is the biggest biggest.

[02:00:41]Yes.

[02:00:41]>> Let's take this caller quickly. Let's just see if this person wants to share something. Hello.

[02:00:46]>> Yes. Hello.

[02:00:48]>> Hello.

[02:00:49]>> Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

[02:00:52]>> Yes. Hi. Let's go quickly. Yeah.

[02:00:54]>> I know time is short but anyhow we have to point fast and quick. Good morning to members and members. Good morning to you. Fireman touching base now. Every well >> I find out all the diseases including cancer. Right. Right now we have more money in the world. We have more scientists. What is the problem? We cannot find cares for all the type of diseases we have in this world up and running fire because we have so much of billions and billions of dollars putting in fire roll out putting into guns and bombs where people dying every day. So if the people them concern about life and hell trust me no matter what happen in this world they can do better money strength unity strength up and running again fire running bless up. Okay, >> interesting point that you made but as well that's for our whole discussion our whole program.

[02:01:41]>> Um I know we coming dog on time so I want to give a little shout a thank you.

[02:01:46]>> So before it do come in to our family >> first and foremost our family the heavenly father for giving us the strength to go through what we go through every day >> and our circle our small circle each and individual of us build up. We want to give, we want to tell them thank you for being there with us at our worst time and our most miserable time and how bad we can treat them at the time sometimes just but they they understand um fine food inc we want to thank them very much for coming on board with the lupus foundation of Dominica this year they are running a softwave program for us so buy your softwave um product so a part of the procedure will go to the lupus foundation as a donation. So everybody run down to all the place that have soft wick pro product and go and buy bulk. That's a big system there.

[02:02:41]>> Yes. It gone it out. Yes. Um >> that is that is BBS information >> BP BPW um business professional women for always being with us for joining us and being with us and giving us a sense of encouragement and even at the time when we have certain things to do like proposal we pass it over to them and they do it. Um, JCI, they have never left us down.

[02:03:05]>> Never left us down. And shout out, big shout out to Triage Health Inc.

[02:03:12]>> We have a fellow lupus >> warrior, Remma Francis, who's working there. And let me tell you, the treatment is super.

[02:03:19]>> So what I'll do, I'll have to go to these places because this is big time promotion, right? This is >> getage.

[02:03:28]And I voted as well to all the persons um who individuals who have supported and made contributions um throughout the years both locally, regionally and internationally.

[02:03:39]>> Yes. Oh, and I forget one one other um place um Netpack.

[02:03:44]>> We want to thank them very much.

[02:03:46]>> Yeah, there are several people who are helping Nigel and even when we were planning for this program um I was trying to get um a doctor especially one abroad. Well, I got the doctor here, but the doctor could not make it to this.

[02:03:57]Definitely, she has private practice and um there was somebody else in the healthcare that wanted to come on as well. But we can always continue this.

[02:04:04]We can always, you know, continue that discussion on on Lucas.

[02:04:07]>> Yes, most definitely. So, and I know that I know D mentioned a Dominican who works at the CDC that she was able to get in touch with that provide you some results or connection or something like that.

[02:04:19]>> Yes. Yes. So you're going to So you're going to share that with us because we would love to connect with that person and have her and connecting the dots.

[02:04:27]>> Well, she she works at the CDC. I don't know if she still does and I don't want to, you know, all she did was tell me, "Hey, have you tried this?"

[02:04:34]>> No, but in terms of connecting with Dominique and we love to do that. So >> Oh, well I will see if she still works at the CDC cuz I'm not sure.

[02:04:41]>> Yeah.

[02:04:44]Connect Henderson. Dr. Trina Henderson Samuel.

[02:04:51]Well, she's married now, so it's Dr. Samuel contact for her because we love to connect with her and, you know, hear her story and her journey. It's another Dominican who's doing well and we want to do Dominicans that do well, you know.

[02:05:04]>> Let's just go to we get that information.

[02:05:08]>> Let's go to the telephone quickly. I have someone in the overseas line quickly. We have already run out of time, but um I think thanks for the opportunity. Morning to all all of you on the program.

[02:05:21]>> Good advice.

[02:05:22]>> Yeah, it's a very sensitive issue.

[02:05:26]Sickness is warriors and I sh I empathize with you guys. I don't like public um I don't like publicity but I'm just making a pledge of 15 to the organization. Thank you. Thank you.

[02:05:39]>> Appreciate that. Appreciate that. That's what boys do. Appreciate that.

[02:05:43]Appreciate that very much.

[02:05:45]>> Thank you Nigel. So yes, you have to insert SMA in there. Well, it was an SM student.

[02:05:52]So we appreci listen. I mean, I really want to thank you. I really want to thank all of you for connecting with us this morning and sharing your journey, sharing your story. Um we hope that the awareness um you know has been made and will be heightened. um for your further foundation, you probably want to give us the foundation's information again before we leave so that people can get that >> and can contribute and can be part of it. Whatever activities that you have coming up, they can share. Although it's just the month of May's lupus month, but of course it's something that goes on all the time. So it's not just Yeah. So you have the maze lupus, but for me it's also January, February, March. Okay. All right. Good. I agree with you. So although it's celebrated in the month of May, but it goes on throughout the year.

[02:06:41]And um the strength that you've displayed, man, that's what I love about it. You guys are strong in terms of you know what you're saying and what you're doing and still being able to smile.

[02:06:49]>> There's something >> and have your humor and laugh. I I love the positivity. There something about illnesses, Nigel, that maybe they strengthen people. I remember we had quite a few cancer survivors back in the day.

[02:06:59]>> Yes.

[02:07:00]>> On the program and and wow, it was just something else, man. when we had um >> I mean the positivity and the smiles and the laughter and and the the togetherness you know and as well mentioned the the support of family and community that's so important so you know more blessings to you and I wish you all the best to the foundation >> before I leave though Nigel I I really wanted to ask I mean we we we delve into so many areas um you know balance how they balance rest how the balance activity and things like that we went into selfcare well-being and all of that I would like to f each of them though although um I think earlier we also asked um what activities or routines that help them manage the symptoms is there for throughout all of this of course is there a a particular Bible verse if not a Bible verse or just some words that you just that just empower you that's your mantra sort of going forward that you just always say you know whenever not only when you are feeling very ill but it's just just are there some like positive words that just guide you for me is this every disappointment is a blessing that is what I move by a blessing >> because I have I have seen it as a blessing.

[02:08:14]>> Anybody else want to share with us what what guides them? What >> my own is my body will not be the boss of me. I am the boss of it. So I got this >> nice nice >> mine is mine is Psalm 121 >> always.

[02:08:33]Yes, I look to the heels. Where will my help come from?

[02:08:36]>> That's correct.

[02:08:37]>> Yes. When it's come from my Yes.

[02:08:40]>> Even as a support system, Vonandra. Um, is there something as well?

[02:08:44]>> Well, I I I reflect on the message of Jesus. He said that we should the greatest commandments is love and through love we show supports and that has always been my focus in life. Um, I'm a giver. Um sometime I I I am on the journey of learning to say no at times to slow it down to ensure that I take care of me as well. But um if the greatest commandment is to love your neighbor and if you do that then you're able to provide the support that is required as I said it's not just for lupus but it's for for families and families go through a lot you know the situation of my mommy as well. Yeah.

[02:09:22]>> So the if we are able as family the unit that unit to show love, we're able as community to show love and we're able as country to show love, I think we'll get where we need um collectively.

[02:09:34]>> I like that. And one thing I miss most because with my journey of building up the foundation, my mom was with me step >> by step and with her condition where she is.

[02:09:45]>> Um it saddens me because I like yeah today because this morning I say boy claim you know today on the radio program you know you'll be right there with me. You would have been there with me boy.

[02:09:57]>> But such is life and I'm thankful that at least she's there still. Even in her condition, she's there still.

[02:10:07]>> Nice. Nice. Listen, more strength to you and you know, I mean, more blessings.

[02:10:13]Keep the positivity.

[02:10:15]Um, less stress and continue sharing the message. Continue sharing the message for those who may not be aware of what Lucas is and what you go through and how they can assist and and help. We hope that the foundation will even grow stronger after today. and um we look forward to hearing how the month went.

[02:10:35]>> So thank you so much for connecting me.

[02:10:37]Much appreciated.

[02:10:38]>> Okay, let me give the information again um for everyone world loopers day every year is May 10th.

[02:10:46]Every year is May 10th. So in the month of May we have more activities but our activities um continue once every month.

[02:10:57]Once every month we'll have a pop-up education and awareness campaign once every month. Our telephone number is both WhatsApp and direct caller 767276518.

[02:11:12]The email is lupus dominica atgmail.com.

[02:11:16]You can also check out our Facebook page lupus foundation of Dominica or lupus Dominica.

[02:11:23]Um our banking account is National Bank of Dominica. The MO banking if you're doing by mo banking the ID is 555 3179 and the account is 15486.

[02:11:40]Any little bit or any little amount do help to go a long way in building awareness >> for lupus.

[02:11:49]>> Yeah.

[02:11:50]>> Thank you.

[02:11:51]>> Thank you.

[02:11:52]>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Much appreciate one thing. Go ahead. Go ahead.

[02:11:55]>> Our moto is support, educate, motivate.

[02:11:59]>> Support, educate.

[02:12:01]>> Motivate. That's the moto.

[02:12:03]>> Yes.

[02:12:04]>> Nice, nice, nice, nice.

[02:12:06]>> Yes. And thank you for having us.

[02:12:08]Anytime you are ready again, we're available to give you a little more insight into our >> daily life. Auntie and we also want I also want the public to say a special prayer for one of our members who is fighting right now at the hospital. Yes.

[02:12:27]It's a difficult journey but pray for her please. Pray for her please. Pray for her please.

[02:12:37]>> Yes. Yes. We send out those prayers to her as well you know and to all the others who who are dealing with this particular condition. Um Krishna, final final thoughts, final words. I know we're kind of wrapping up on time with finals.

[02:12:52]>> I just want to say continue supporting us. Continue listening to our stories. Continue um giving us the strength that we need.

[02:13:03]And those with loopers that are scared to come out, please join us.

[02:13:08]>> Um share your stories. It will be beneficial to you. It will be beneficial to the country. when we have that amount of people suffering with lupus, we'll be better able to get the resources that we need in the country to better take care of all of us.

[02:13:23]>> I love that indeed.

[02:13:25]>> Um first of all, I want to um also add to what Krishna said. Um if you if advocate for yourself, I'm very big at advocating for yourself. If you tell your doctor this is what's hurting and he's telling you no, see somebody else.

[02:13:39]>> Yes.

[02:13:40]>> Um you have to advocate for yourself because you know your body. you know what you're feeling and I had to do a lot of that. Um, I just want to thank you all for having us. Um, I had work today. I took off for this and I wasn't feeling well either. So, that was a great segue for me to stay home. Um, I have some people I just want to thank from the bottom of my heart. Glor.

[02:14:00]>> Glor has a special place in my heart because I don't want to cry. I like to cry butlorin special place in my heart because Gloring that first day I will never forget driving crying with my baby in the car and Glorian had to give me strength to make sure I make it home before that crashing. So I will always have Glorian in my hat every time. Um my family, my mother Eugenia and my sister Donell back home as far as they are.

[02:14:30]That's my big support. My brother Marcus McIntyre, that's my my support. My boyfriend Francis, he is he is the I I tell people if I could propose to that man, I would because he is when I'm sick, he will come and ask me, "What do you need? What do you need me to do?" I have never had that before. Before I was I had You're always sick. This is my strength. Um, my daughter Malia who sees her mama have to go through that and sometimes she cries and I have to tell her I'm okay. I am going to be okay. And my friends, I have a good group of friends daily. Um, Anna, Nicole, all of them are listening right now. Alana, they're all listening. I want to tell them, Na, thank you guys for the support for showing up. Shurmer, thank you for showing up because sometimes when my dad died last year, I had also had knee surgery, lupus again.

[02:15:24]All of a sudden, I went to Dominica for Carnival, did not participate much. Came back on Friday. Monday, my knee got swollen. I had to have emergency surgery for my knee because of lupus. And my dad went into the ICU and he passed away during all of this and they showed up.

[02:15:41]So, I want to thank them for always showing up even if it's just a message.

[02:15:46]All of you guys, I love you. Keep keep being the friends that you are to the family. um for my lupus friends. Um boy, you guys are so you all help me so much um for the support that we give each other and and I hope it never ends. And the people who are scared to say, "Hey, I have lupus." You can reach out to us.

[02:16:07]I am dug on Facebook. Um reach out.

[02:16:10]We'll help. We keep our things private.

[02:16:13]We don't tell other people's any otherbody's business when it comes to your illnesses if you don't want anybody to know. But the more people that knows is the more help you can get because probably that's what Dominica is waiting on. As as Lauren said, she has 500 people. Probably if there's more then the the the health organization will probably be like let's get something going because we have so many people who are suffering. Um but again I want to make sure I keep saying please be an advocate for yourself. Advocate. I I don't I don't like what this doctor is telling me or I'm not agreeing. Let me go to Dr. John and see what he says so we could make sure that you know it matches. And thank you guys for having us. It it it it makes it it's it's visible. It's visible now.

[02:16:56]>> Yes, it is.

[02:16:58]>> I enjoyed the program. I mean, I learned so much myself and um >> Oh, man. Yeah. Learned a lot.

[02:17:03]>> Yes, Nigel. We we we have to bring them on. But not only that, I mean is a while I've been trying to have a program on radio, you know, health issues. You know, sometimes the time is just not always right to get a right time.

[02:17:18]>> But I'm >> I'm happy we're able to have them this morning to share that.

[02:17:22]>> Yes. And in recent times, we have been looking at a lot of illnesses and things like that. So, Nigel, we have to just continue. We have to continue.

[02:17:29]>> Keep the mission going, man. We keep the mission. We keep the mission going every Saturday 9 to 11. Keep the mission going.

[02:17:34]>> Yeah, man. Sometimes we laugh, we have a lot of fun, you know, we talk about carnival and other things, >> but that's important too.

[02:17:39]>> Yes. Yeah, that's important. And um the social activity is >> and I'm happy that you brought somebody from the support group that is I love this seriously.

[02:17:47]>> Um >> yes.

[02:17:48]>> Yeah. What a >> thank you to her.

[02:17:51]>> All the best to all of you and um just just um connect with Nigel and I at any time at any time and um we'll have to see what we can do you know >> um as Nigel and Ivona as well um Jack and Jill. So >> yes sir. Yes. Thank you very much. Thank you.

[02:18:11]>> Thank you. Just a little plug. Um I know Mr. Thomas was on and he spoke about Atlanta Carnival. I want to make sure that also too there's Juvet and there's a Dominica troop called Vibes and Rhythm that will be out for Juvet. There's up also South and Punch where Dominicans Rio Triller a lot of them will be on um that Sunday I'll be working. So, please come out and support because I'll be outside for Atlanta Carnival sick or not.

[02:18:43]>> Thank you guys.

[02:18:44]>> I might be in bed on Monday, but I'll be outside.

[02:18:48]>> Also, big up Opti Shop because Opti Shop and Option, they are also big supporters. Um, Mr. Thomas Kids are the owners of Opti Shop in Dominica and Option, they are supporters as well. So, I want to also recognize them. Look, look, I'm sponsor, we have to work together, you know, we have Yeah, we have some things to do. But but it was really a pleasure having you on and I really enjoyed to this program. I did a lot of research myself. My head I was bombarded with so much. You know, when you start to do research online, you get so much more and sometimes it it affects your whole mental well-being as well.

[02:19:27]>> So, but I really enjoy to this point.

[02:19:28]>> Yeah. But the research you're doing now, it's different than when we were diagnosed earlier on.

[02:19:33]>> It was Yes. Yes. What you would have seen, you would have sit down and like is she going to are they leaving? How are they living with that?

[02:19:42]>> That's why I said I never had lupus.

[02:19:44]When Dr. Ala told me I had lupus, I was like, I don't have that.

[02:19:47]>> Yeah. There was a time I tell myself, "No, I'm going to abandon this thing."

[02:19:50]That research you doing, leave it alone, man.

[02:19:53]>> But but thank you. We'll do it again next week. There's another program after us. So, >> yes, my dear. We connect again as always next week.

[02:20:00]>> Right. Take care.

[02:20:03]>> All right. Bye.

[02:20:04]>> Thank you. Bye-bye.

[02:20:05]>> That's it. That's we come to the end of Connecting the Dots. Join us next weekend, Saturday, for another program.

[02:20:11]Thank you.

[02:20:12]>> Humble like a child when I'm around you.

[02:20:17]You make love and you