Faith and Triumph: Overcoming Lupus and the Unwavering Care that Made it Possible 

“We love [Valley Children’s] because they are always there for us. Whether it’s through MyChart messaging or a late-night call, the team never fails to respond and ensure all our questions are answered.”

– Patricio, Faith's dad

At just 16 years old, Faith’s life took an unexpected turn when she experienced an indescribable feeling of delirium that quickly escalated into a serious medical emergency. After collapsing at home and recovering briefly, Faith headed to school, only to collapse again, this time in a state of hallucinations. Her concerned parents rushed her to the local hospital, where her condition worsened. 

Faith’s tests revealed inflammation in her brain and she would immediately need the highest level of specialized care, so that same night she was transferred to Valley Children’s. The next morning, Faith’s family received the news they had been dreading: Faith was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with neuropsychiatric involvement.  

“SLE is a type of autoimmune disease, meaning that the body's immune system, which usually fights off infections, mistakenly attacks its own tissues,” explained Dr. Deepika Singh, Valley Children’s pediatric rheumatologist. “In Faith’s case, the condition was neurological, affecting her brain, which drastically impacted her mood, behavior and mental function.” 
 

  
Faith rides a bike (left) and walks down a hallway with a Valley Children's Rehabilitation Center staff member (right) as part of her physical therapy .

Patricio, Faith’s father, recalls the initial shock: “I didn’t even know what lupus was, but the doctors took the time to explain it to me in a way I understood. They did extensive testing, a lot of observations and provided detailed explanations on how they would treat Faith.” Despite the fear and uncertainty, the family's worries were eased by the doctors' expertise and the thoroughness of their care. 

“Diagnosing neuropsychiatric involvement in lupus is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach. In Faith’s case, we collaborated closely with multiple specialists, including our neurology and neuropsychology colleagues and quickly completed a multitude of tests to confirm her diagnosis,” added Dr. Singh. “Faith was treated with a combination of immunosuppressive medications and I believe early intervention was key in Faith’s successful outcome.” 

On her road to recovery, Faith’s time at Valley Children’s Rehabilitation Center stood out because of the exceptional experience she had with the staff. From speech and physical therapy to music and occupational therapy, Faith’s care team went above and beyond. Her father shared, “The entire team was incredibly caring and professional. They never missed a beat in Faith’s daily care schedule, and they motivated her to stay committed to getting better.” 

Faith always found joy in her therapies and embraced the challenge of her physical exercises, which helped her regain her strength and confidence. 

Today, just 10 months later, Faith is back in school and pursuing her passions. She plays the clarinet and piano for fun, sings karaoke, rides her bike, reads and, most importantly, she still values her exercise routines despite any physical limitations she encounters.  

“It is immensely gratifying to see the profound impact treatment has had on Faith’s course of care. With ongoing treatment and monitoring, I am optimistic about her long-term quality of life,” added Dr. Singh.  

Patricio shared, “It has been a long road to recovery, but seeing Faith do so much better today because of the care she received at Valley Children’s fills me with hope. Faith is back to being an ‘A’ student again. I can envision her future, including college and a career. She has even expressed interest in becoming a physical therapist to help others, as I know she was inspired by the amazing care teams who supported her.” 
 

  
Faith smiles with her family.

Even after discharge, Faith and her family are thankful for the continued exceptional support from Dr. Singh and the entire rheumatology team. “We love them because they are always there for us,” Patricio says. “Whether it’s through MyChart messaging or a late-night call, the team never fails to respond and ensure all our questions are answered.” 

Faith’s journey from a life-threatening diagnosis to a hopeful future is a reminder of the incredible care, strength and support that can make all the difference in a patient’s recovery. 

Rheumatology Care Beyond the Clinic

Valley Children's dedicated pediatric rheumatology team works closely with organizations including the Arthritis Foundation and the American College of Rheumatology to provide support to families outside the clinical setting. The department also offers a variety of programs for pediatric patients with chronic autoimmune conditions, including group yoga and team sports like cricket, to improve their physical activities and coping skills. Learn more about pediatric rheumatology care at Valley Children's >>