Shamekka Marty

Shamekka Marty is a Cybersecurity Project Management Consultant, Foundation Director and board member of several charities, wife, mother of 3, patient advocate, caregiver and Lupus warrior living with several overlapping auto immune diseases. Lupus and auto immune disease has been apart of her entire life. Her Nana was bedridden and afflicted with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis as well as her mother had Lupus Nephritis. Her mother took in her Nana and thus making her both of their caregivers at the young age of 10. She also is the medical proxy and caregiver for her Uncle who had a kidney transplant due to complications of HIV. Marty was a teen mom giving birth to her son at the age of 17. Her mother sadly passed away at the age of 44 and her Nana at age 60. You can say that she was made to be a patient advocate. At age 30, Mrs. Marty was diagnosed with Lupus. After the diagnosis of Lupus she suffered a mini stroke and recovered with other alignments developing. At this time her list of diseases include, Raynaud’s, Vasculitis, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Sjogren’s, Lupus Nephritis (Kidney transplant in Feb 2023),Rheumatoid Arthritis, Endometriosis, IBS, Crest Syndrome, PAH and hypothyroidism. After many surgeries, chemo therapy, stem cell transplants, extreme weight gain/loss in addition to hair she uses her life as an example that despite it is never, "Why me? But try me"! Practicing strength through adversity, she was able to achieve her Bachleors Degree and work remotely as an IT professional. She has co-authored a book called "Life is Beautiful", pioneered for proclamations throughout the United States, started a podcast, is a Lupus Influencer, partnered with various pharma companies such as GSK, AstraZeneca, Janssen and Janssen. Her online presence includes features on several foundation podcast, Lupus.net, Wego Health, Refinery 29, honored by the Women of Kulture for her advocacy and spoken at a multitude of events as a keynote speaker. Her motivation is helping people and most of all being there for her kid’s milestones. A gift that was not afforded to her when her mother passed 22 years ago. Everyone needs a little motivation. Not everyone wants to talk about their struggles. But no one wants to feel alone. Let her be the voice for the voiceless. To empower you as you go through a health struggle. It what she was born to do.