New Community Career & Technical Institute (NCCTI) recognized Lupus Awareness Month on May 6 by having Medical Assistant Clinical (MAC) graduate Christianna Mallory speak to students in the MAC, Patient Care Technician (PCT) and Culinary Arts Specialist programs about her experience with lupus from diagnosis at age 13 to the present, a decade later.

Mallory explained that lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that has a variety of symptoms, including a facial rash, fatigue and joint pain. The condition has no cure. There are treatments, however, Mallory said sometimes they help and sometimes they can make symptoms worse so it can be a difficult condition to live with.

NCCTI students had the opportunity to ask questions and received purple pins, which represent the color of lupus awareness.