When my local lupus organization posted Seal concert tickets on their facebook site to be auctioned, I made sure I was the highest bidder.  I had plans of making a statement at the concert even before I'd even won them. Two weeks later, I received the email to say I was the highest bidder.   I was so excited.  I was going to LA the following week so I could only make it to the first concert held at Sydney’s  State Theatre.  Even though I would have usually dressed up, or worn a nice dress, I decided that I would get noticed a lot more if I was wearing orange - a colour along with purple, associated with lupus.

I was running late for the concert, but that didn’t stop me. I called into a store on the way and bought some orange satin and a few permanent marking pens. At a pizza shop, and right there at the table I made my sign that read, ‘Life without lupus’ in big black text and then it was a mad dash to the city for the concert.

I didn’t have time to do my hair so I tore a side of the satin sign off and wore it as a head scarf and did my makeup on the way.  We found parking and walked  to the theatre. I was excited to be there.  While we were inline waiting to collect the tickets, I could see people looking at me, reading my lupus shirt.  That’s what I wanted, so I could put the word lupus in people’s minds.

When Seal came out it was excellent. We were sitting in the 4^th row, and although we were in the light, I wasn’t sure if he could see me.  But we made eye contact and he gave me a smile and that was enough for me. The first few songs were quiet, so I was nervous to hold up my sign, so I wore it on my shoulders like a superman cape and sat forward so that people could see it from behind. 

As the night progressed and people started dancing in the aisles, I thought, 'Ok, now's my chance.'  I made my way to the front of the stage and was shaking the sign behind my head.  As Seal came over to my side of the stage, I held it up to him so he could read it, and he took it from me.  I couldn’t believe it!  He was holding it up while he was singing and then when the song finished, he held it up again and gave a shout-out for lupus.  He said that lupus is an interesting disease and that he'd suffered from lupus for the past two and a half decades.  He then turned to me and asked my name.  I timidly replied,"Erin"  He thanked me for being there  and danced around with the sign tucked in his back pocket.

The music stopped and it was time for the encore.  The whole crowd was clapping and cheering. Seal came back on stage, walked to the centre and said,  "This song is very special to me and I feel it only appropriate to dedicate this song to you Erin."  He reached out holding my hand and starting singing. 

I used to see people on TV crying at concerts and thinking that? Why would you cry?  Suddenly uncontrollable tears of joy streamed down my face. 

After the concert finished and people were leaving, I was invited backstage to meet with Seal.  He thanked me again and we chatted a little, took some photos then he had to go.  My actions were pre-meditated.  I wanted people to think about lupus.  And I thought what better opportunity and place to do it - at a concert of a high profile celebrity such as Seal, whom many people don’t realize has lupus. 

Although It was my plan I could never of imagined it turning out the way it did.  It was unbelievable when Seal thanked me and reached out holding my hand dedicating the last song of the night to me!!!!!! No words could describe how I felt, and I still get tingles talking about it.  It's absolutely by far the best moment I've had since being touched by lupus - and a story I'm happy to share to spread the word.


Congratulations Erin for spreading the word about lupus in such a public way.  Check out her great lupus video below  my post from YouTube - click the link to my YouTube channel and it is the only one right now in my favorites.  Sorry for the extra step but to put youtube on my site, I need to pay more each month.  I am working on getting advertisements on the site so I can hopefully afford to pay the monthly fee for better services.   So for now, bear with me! 

 Seal, absolutely amazing, you are making the lupus community so proud.  Please keep up the great work and use your publicity for spreading awareness.

Sorry I haven't been on for over a week - a combination of a flare and depression.  I don't know if the depression is due to the steadily warming weather in Florida and not wanting to hibernate in this house all summer like I must.  I have been fighting the depression all winter though so I don't know; it is probably a combination of a lot of things.  I am sure everybody out there could write a book on our lives and how depressing it is when we are in the right -or wrong- frame of mind.  Well, more to come soon, hope you were missing me too.


xoxo

Lupus Celebrity   


TO CHECK OUT ERIN'S GREAT LUPUS VIDEO, TO CATCH  CURE, CLICK HERE

http://www.youtube.com/user/lupuscelebrity