By: Cheryl Smith
In the mid-1970s, we learned that two of my cousins had been diagnosed with Lupus, a disease we had never heard of. Beverly’s journey was shortened but my dear cousin Rosa Lee went on to live a long and fruitful life.
That chronic autoimmune disease causes the immune system to attack its own healthy, tissues and organs, causing massive, inflammation and damage.
According to the National Resource Center on Lupus, women between the ages of 15 and 44 were more likely to develop Lupus and usually those women are Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander.
If there is one thing we need to do, it is to read up on everything we ingest into our body because experts suggest there are so many risk factors. This non-contagious illness has been known to have a life expectancy of 20 years, however, Rosa Lee is proof that it’s about more than science.
While there is no cure, Rosa Lee lived with Lupus for more than 50 years.
Now, I won’t say there weren’t many challenges: transplants, hospitalizations, continuous treatment, and sometimes it seemed like there was never an end to her suffering.
But I want to talk about Rosa Lee, the person. Named after her paternal grandmother, she was my mother‘s oldest brother’s, oldest daughter. She was scholarly, and level-headed.
As a child I loved going to their house during summer visits to Plant City, Florida. Her mom had to be the best cook in town.
Rosa Lee wanted to attend Florida A&M University, but that didn’t happen so she went to work, taking charge and gaining respect of her peers and anyone who worked with or around her.
I grew up and attended that great University and shared so many of my experiences with her, including the time I went to the doctor and they ran tests on me because they thought I, too, might have Lupus.
I didn’t, but the doctors said it was a necessary test, considering my age and that I had family members living with Lupus.
I know had the tests revealed otherwise, she would have been in my ear constantly, ensuring that I was taking care of myself.
Rosa Lee lived every day to the fullest. Whether she was doing something with her church, enjoying classmates, or gathering with her family, she did not let her illness bring her down and if it somehow got ahold of her, she didn’t let it keep her down for too long or destroy her will to live.
Lupus could be like a prison sentence sucking the life out of you or, as was the case with Rosa Lee, she survived and thrived.
I loved her so much because she was giving, and loving. She provided guidance and a nonjudgmental ear for her young cousin. She told me she was proud of me and that meant the world to me.
The last time I saw her was in April. Again, we talked about what we were doing to make this world a better place and how we need to prioritize our health over everybody and everything else.
Unlike others who were not dealing with half the health issues that confronted her daily, Rosa Lee did more to make her City better. She attended meetings, confronted elected officials, addressed issues, and worked on campaigns.
She could talk for hours about confronting politicians who said one thing and did another. She confronted citizens and elected officials expressing her desire to make Plant City one that provided for all citizens equally on both sides of the track and in all parts of town.
She loved letting officials know that she was on top of things, that she had done her homework, and that she was going to be voting every time while also holding them accountable. She was an activist a warrior and a champion for Plant City and now she’s gone.
A lot of people will be saying wonderful things about Rosa Lee and they won’t be lying.
Rosa Lee was always doing something for someone else whether it was giving of her money, time, and resources, or running errands; anything she could do to help make others’ lives better.
Visiting Plant City won’t be the same. I have lost more than a cousin. Rosa Lee was like a sister whose unconditional love has helped me become the woman I am. This world is a better place because she lived and loved.
