Martha Chisholm spent years seeking answers. Now, as a patient advocate, she’s helping others find theirs.  

What was once Martha Chisholm’s passion quickly became her greatest pain.

Martha was in college, pursuing an education at Parsons School of Design in Manhattan – her dream. From painting to drawing, fashion to design, she was delving deeply into many creative outlets, drawing inspiration from the effervescent city surrounding her.

That was until she noticed that using her hands to create the art that she so deeply cared about caused them to swell and grow incredibly painful.

“Here I was supposed to be pursuing my dream of being an artist, and I couldn’t even hold a paintbrush,” Martha said.

When she went home for summer break, instead of relaxing, Martha headed to the doctor. Perhaps coincidentally, the night before the appointment, a commercial came on TV talking about lupus. She wondered what it was.

Just days later, her own diagnosis came back. She had lupus.

Questions raced through her head: What would this mean? What’s going to happen to me? Do I have to stop doing what I love?

Finding Answers 

Those questions swirled until Martha met Dr. Meggan Mackay, whom she sees as her “medical mother.” Dr. Mackay answered all her questions and – for the first time – Martha felt truly listened to. Even with the right care in place, that didn’t mean her journey was simple. The early years were still tough, marked by frequent hospitalizations and persistent sickness. It took a toll on her mental health, wondering what her future would bring.

But Dr. Mackay and her team provide a strong support system, working with Martha to forge a path toward sustaining a great quality of life fueled by trust, faith, and working toward better solutions. One such solution was participating in clinical trials – a decision that actually saved Martha from developing kidney disease. More questions arose, but answers to every one made her feel confident in her decision.

Driven by her deep conviction in the benefits of participating in clinical research, Martha serves in a peer-to-peer education program developed by Lupus Therapeutics, the clinical affiliate of the Lupus Research Alliance, called Patient Advocates for Lupus Studies (PALS). As a PAL, Martha shares knowledge and provides support to other people with lupus to help them make informed decisions about participating in lupus clinical research.

“Those questions I had in the beginning? I am now able to answer them for others who are thinking about joining a trial,” Martha said. “Clinical trials are a life raft that can not only help us now but allows us to do our part to help others in the future. Giving back as a PAL is an incredible full-circle moment that makes me feel like I’m making a true difference.”

Fueling Passions

Now, the passion that Martha had for art can be seen in many areas of her life. She is proud that despite the physical and mental challenges of lupus that she battles each day, it does not stop her from chasing life to the fullest.

Within the lupus community, she is providing and gaining support with Lupus Therapeutics and the Lupus Research Alliance that comes with sharing lived experiences with others. In her professional life, she’s achieved steady promotions and recognition from her peers – leading divisions and teams to be their best. Within her personal life, she constantly stays active and still finds time to paint. And, within her faith, she gives full credit to her relationship with God for being by her side and putting her medical team in her life – to support her on this journey, no matter what curveballs lupus throws her way.

“Lupus is not your identity. Lupus is not who you are,” said Martha. “I want others to know that if you follow your doctor’s orders, stay diligent and physically active, you can live a great life with lupus.”

Interested in becoming a lupus advocate? Learn more about the PALS program.