Lydia’s first sports appeared when she was pregnant with her first son. Like a snowstorm, the sports spread and by the time she turned 20, must of her body was covered with psoriasis.

3 years later, the disease spread beyond the skin, causing such pain in her joints she could barely move or walk.

As a mother of a 3 year old and a tiny baby, this put immense strain on Lydia and her family. She was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, but the name did not remove the agony.

There were social challenges too. At times, Lydia was unabled to wear shoes because of the swelling cause by fluid build-up and in her joints. She also remembers going to the hairdresser and having to endure their disgust.

But Lydia’s story has a happy ending.

In February 2022, after a long waiting, her medical aid finally agreed to pay for her biologic treatment.

Within 5 months her condition improved from 97% to 7%. Now Lydia is able to enjoy more time spent with her children. She goes to gym every morning. She is comfortable, she is mobile and she’s happy to be in her own skin