Spotlights
Spotlight: Lupus Awareness Month
At Amergis Healthcare Staffing, our team members are at the heart of everything we do. Each month, our Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) board highlights stories of Amergis employees who demonstrates our core values.
May is Lupus Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding and acceptance of the autoimmune disease which makes your immune system damage organs and tissue throughout your body. This month-long observance also aims to highlight the experiences of individuals living with lupus and promote support for their families. In recognition of Lupus Awareness Month, the D&I team spoke with Director of Sales Hayley McIntire about her journey and to shed light on the challenges and triumphs faced by those navigating life with lupus.
Hayley’s Story
Can you tell us more about your role, what you do, and how you joined Amergis?
I celebrate six years with Amergis this April. Looking back, I remember seeing the opening for Healthcare Recruiter and being ready to get back into a more sales focused role after having my second baby. My first call was with our Talent Acquisition Manager, Taylor Ertl, who also happens to hail from the Greenville, SC area like me. I remember her discussing the growth opportunities within the company and the “promote from within” focus. Looking back, I can say that I am an example of that. I started as a healthcare recruiter, was promoted into a Business Development role for SC, took on an Account Executive role on our Locum Tenens team, and now work regionally as a Director of Sales.
Can you share your journey of being diagnosed with Lupus and how it has impacted your life and work?
Right out of college I suffered through debilitating GI issues that started to impact my job. After about two years of progressively worse struggles, I spoke with a friend who happened to be a Registered Dietitian. She walked me through getting tested for Celiac Disease, which I had never even heard of. Turns out she was on the right track. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2009 and have been on a strict gluten free diet ever since.
That experience, almost 20 years ago, as well as having two children, made me really in-tune with my body. I started having similar, but much worse symptoms in 2021. Although it was sporadic at first, I was triggered into more constant flares over the last three years due to stressful situations that were outside of my control. The symptoms became more and more frequent until I was thrown into a life with pain and fatigue that never relented, even for one minute.
After going from doctor to doctor, I finally found a PCP who listened and got me the specialist appointments I was desperate for. That process led to additional diagnosis of Colitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and a rare form of Lupus. In the fall, I started biologic infusions and medications that have slowed the progression of the diseases and have been grateful for improvements I am already seeing.
How has your recent diagnosis influenced your perspective on life and your approach to daily activities?
Since my diagnosis, I have actually gone through the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Although I have closely experienced grief in the sense of losing loved ones, it does apply to situations of loss outside of that. I have had to grieve the woman and mother I thought I was going to get to be and adjust to a new life where my body and brain are not always dependable. Initially, that spun me into a bit of chaos, but I walked through it and can attest that there is a brighter future ahead, once you find a way to process and heal that works for you.
Due to the impact all of these diseases have on me mentally, physically, and emotionally, I have had to fine tune everything I do throughout the day. I have to balance out every bite I take, my water intake, my physical activity, and how much I pour myself into work. I cannot burn the candle at both ends and have to be incredibly strategic with my time.
What are some key facts about Lupus that you think everyone should know to better understand the condition?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. When you have an autoimmune disease, your body does not differentiate between healthy cells and potentially harmful antigens. Your immune system is triggered to react and actually destroys healthy tissues within your body in various ways, causing inflammation and damage. Additionally, between 75% and 80% of those diagnosed with an autoimmune disease are women.
The average amount of time for someone to be diagnosed with an autoimmune disease is almost five years. Many patients will go through multiple providers and specialists in order to get to the point of diagnosis. Other autoimmune diseases include Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Hashimoto’s, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Graves’ Disease, Celiac Disease, and more.
What advice would you give to others about advocating for their own health and ensuring they get the necessary tests and diagnoses?
I never thought I would get to the point where I would get to use the phrase “Hindsight is 20/20”. I could not see my way out of the relentless cycle of illness. The best advice I have to offer, now that I am stable enough to look back at my experience, is to find your people. If you feel like those in your immediate circle are not giving you the support you need, expand your network.
If you feel isolated and alone, please know that there are many others out there who are working through the gauntlet of obtaining a diagnosis, as well as the heart-breaking process of hearing it once you get there. There is a community of colleagues, friends, family, and peers I have come to rely on who have truly been a saving grace.
What message do you want to share with your colleagues and the wider community about Lupus during Lupus Awareness Month?
From my experience, it all starts with listening to truly understand someone. The times when I have been cut short only made me more desperate to find the right words so that I felt seen and heard. Being heard meant being safe to me, and I did not always feel safe.
A lot of people may not understand that individuals with chronic illness cannot “put on a happy face” or “push through it.” In fact, the times when I have attempted to mask my symptoms in order to participate at the same level as my peers, I have been driven into flares that can last for days.
I have consciously decided to speak out about my struggles because it brings me a sense of peace that I was lacking prior. I learned that when I am surrounded by those who understand, accept, and support me the way I need, I feel safe and am less likely to experience debilitating symptoms. Literally, using my voice to ask for what I need in order to show up each day has been a saving grace.
We need to all understand that everyone is at their own place in their journey. There are many others out there who will choose to keep their health close to the vest for personal reasons. You will not always know what someone is going through. Let’s try to stick to the Golden Rule: “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”
We want to thank Hayley for sharing with us about her journey with lupus. We hope her story, and those of others during Lupus Awareness Month, inspire our community to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.
Join the Amergis Healthcare Staffing Team and Make a Difference
Amergis Staffing always has a wide range of available opportunities for people who are ready to accelerate their careers. We embrace employees from all different backgrounds and always strive to foster a welcoming work environment by following our core values of:
- Promoting diversity and inclusion.
- Winning with integrity and trust.
- Prioritizing quality.
- Investing in development.
- Championing innovation.
- Driving for results.
Learn how you can join the Amergis Staffing team by reaching out online or visiting our jobs site today.
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