Hi everyone

[Debbie_kinsey]

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to introduce myself as I'm a new member of the Lupus UK team. My name is Debbie and I'm in a new role as Health Information Officer, which basically means I'm going to be writing for the website, magazine, physical leaflets, etc, about new research and trials, living with lupus, and lots more.

I'll gradually be spending more time on the forum and joining in on discussions, so I'm sure you'll see me popping up on here, but please feel free to message me privately if I can be of any help.

Outside of work, I'm a big online gamer, mainly FFXIV, D&D, and board games. I've recently started teaching myself German to try to keep up with my European friends that I play with who all use English as their second (or fourth!) language, and I'm also very slowly trying to learn the piano. Other than that I'm a big fan of huge slices of cake, lindy hop, and so-bad-that-they-are-great films.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all soon.

Debbie

[sarahsch]

Hi Debbie, nice to meet you. You'll find we are a friendly bunch on here ☺️

[Chris21]

hi Debbie, glad you’ve joined lupus uk. I’ll look forward to reading your articles. Good luck in your new role. 🙂

[EOLHPC]

hello Debbie: great intro post! Can you tell us a bit about your experience of lupus?

🤝🍀💞 Coco

[Debbie_kinsey Administrator LUPUS UK in reply to EOLHPC]

Hi Barnclown, thanks for the welcome!

I'm relatively new to lupus - I have a chronic illness with some overlap with lupus so I have some personal understanding of what it's like to deal with a more invisible condition and some of the symptoms of lupus, but not of lupus itself. Before this job I worked as a researcher at a university, investigating experiences of all kinds of different health conditions like dementia, overactive bladder, and recovery from surgery. While I was there I also did some disability advocacy work, helping disabled and chronically ill staff and students find connection and share experiences, and bothering university management a lot to try and improve our working/studying lives there. A couple of members of my network there had lupus.

Basically - not a lot of direct experience, but I'm quickly learning a lot and keen to learn more! I'm very passionate about supporting people with chronic conditions in general, and about making research/health information more accessible to people, so I'm looking forward to getting properly stuck in.

[EOLHPC in reply to Debbie_kinsey]

thanks so much! Wishing you all the best here! One of the greatest things about this community is the vigilance we’ve always been sure of from your colleagues at head office. I’ve always felt safe here, and your presence is bound to add even more to that sense of safety❣️

[CecilyParsley]

Hi Debbie and welcome 🙂

[Krazykat26]

Hi Debbie 🤗Welcome 💜🌈xx

[Poshcards]

Hi, Debbie and welcome, hope you enjoy your new role with Lupus UK xx

[Debbie_kinsey Administrator LUPUS UK]

Thank you everyone for the warm welcome!

[BookishVibes]

Hi and welcome, Debbie! Good to have you here 🙂

[M0wnt]

Hi, great to have you 🤗

[MusicalFurbaby]

Wilkommen! Looking forward to getting to know you in the coming months!

[Debbie_kinsey Administrator LUPUS UK in reply to MusicalFurbaby]

Vielen dank!