My Story

It all started the day I fell asleep at work. I was in the teacher's lounge and fell asleep. I literally felt like I couldn't wake up. From there it escalated to doctor's appointments, low grade fevers, rashes, joint pain, excessive fatigue. I couldn't drive because I might pass out. At that time my daughter was 2 and I would put her in my bed to watch a movie, call my husband to come home immediately and fall asleep for hours. Something wasn't right. I hadn't been feeling well for a while but doctors never seemed to believe me when I told them all of my symptoms. It wasn't until it was too dangerous to ignore that people started to listen.

I found an amazing rheumatologist. I'm pretty sure she saved my life. I was diagnosed with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease ( UCTD) which mostly looks like Lupus - as well as Raynaud's. As I listed all my symptoms my doctor listened patiently. She didn't laugh when I told her my skin hurt when people hugged me, or that my fingers turned white when I was shopping for groceries in the frozen food aisle. She didn't judge me when I told her I was self diagnosed "allergic to the sun" because I get horrible rashes, exhaustion and fatigue vacationing in Mexico. Or that my "feet burned" when I walked on the floor without slippers. She did some bloodwork, sat me down and gave it to me straight. I had UCTD/Lupus and I would have it for the rest of my life.

I didn't believe her. Even though I could barely bend my fingers because my joints were so swollen. I didn't believe her. I was in total denial that this was a chronic illness I couldn't escape. She gave me Plaquenil (which I refused to take) and I went home in total shock. My symptoms didn't get better and then one night I woke up with a debilitating panic attack. I always had some underlying anxiety but this was epic. I thought I was dying. After that the panic came regularly and my anxiety was through the roof. Clearly I was having difficulty accepting this diagnosis. So I started therapy and started the meds. PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT Plaquenil takes like 6 months to kick in. Well shit. That was unexpected.

So I slowly got better, but I had some setbacks. I am a Special Education Teacher and I work for the county. During this time I put in my resignation because I was worried I wasn't going to be able to work the upcoming school year and I didn't want to "let my principal down".

(See my upcoming blog about not apologizing for your illness...coming soon). We rented out our house and rented a small apartment for 18 months with the anticipation I would be staying home and we would be on one income. Our life was flipped upside down.

It was the most terrifying time in my life. Worse than getting diagnosed, worse than when we found out we were only going to have one kid. When I was worried I couldn't work I lost my identity. I felt like I couldn't contribute financially to my family. I had no idea what would come next. And it was at that time I decided NEVER AGAIN.

Never again would I not have a Plan B.

This year on July 4th my husband/financial/sales/entrepreneurial guru jumped in and joined me in business. Since then I have spent my time focusing on building myself a plan B. I am the healthiest I've ever been. My bloodwork has come back with no flags for one year straight. - Don't be confused, this is not a humble brag. I'm straight up bragging.

Almost one year ago I found a way to make REAL money selling skincare working from home. A residual income that offers me the opportunity to 1) build a legacy for my family and 2) RETIRE EARLY from the county if I CHOOOSE TO!!

I LOVE my job. I do not see myself retiring early from teaching at this point in time. But guess what? I can. That is my CHOICE now. And for that I will be forever grateful.

It is our mission to share this opportunity with as many people as possible. To afford anyone who wants some financial freedom, who wants to build a legacy, who wants to pay off debt, who wants to work from home or the hospital who is intermittently well or living with an autoimmune disease the ability to MAKE THIER OWN WAY and BE THEIR OWN BOSS. We would love to have you on our team! To join our side hustle reach out:

email: lposner.myrandf@gmail.com

Instagram: hustleandheart0

business website: lposner.myrandf.com

xoxo - Lori

The trip I earned selling skincare - lounging in the shade, with lotion and a sunhat on #lifewithlupus