For several years I thought about different ways to educate the public about autoimmune diseases. Although writing a book was a great idea, it just wasn’t the right idea at the moment.

Maybe obtaining a Master’s in a health-related field would give me the background, but I was already living with an autoimmune disease so what exactly was a scholarly book going to teach me that I didn’t already know. So I just said "Okay", until the light goes off I’ll just keep talking to people about myasthenia gravis, the autoimmune disease I was diagnosed with at the still tender age of 22, to educate them about autoimmune diseases.

Once I started talking to people I started noticing a theme. People would take one look at me and say that I was the “best looking sick person that they know”. People would continuously ask me what my secret was for looking so good despite living with myasthenia gravis. I just figured I looked the same as I always had, except for gaining 20 lbs from taking the medication prednisone for the myasthenia gravis. And even when I lost the weight, people began reminding me that I didn’t look like anything was wrong with me. So, in February 2006, God gave me the vision to produce a documentary on women with autoimmune diseases.

With a lot of thought, prayer and an idea from my mother, this is how Beauty Does Lie: The Untold Stories of Autoimmune Diseases was born. The title was conceived based on one of many comments I received from people after being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. People with autoimmune diseases often appear “healthy” from outward physical appearances; however, autoimmune diseases cause devastating and debilitating physical and emotional effects which are not often visible to the naked eye.

On September 8, 2006 I held the Premiere of the documentary I produced, Beauty Does Lie: The Untold Stories of Autoimmune Diseases, with free admission to the public for approximately 300 people at the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago, IL. Beauty Does Lie explores the lives of seven African American women living with various forms of autoimmune diseases including lupus, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren’s syndrome, pernicious anemia and myasthenia gravis. The women explain their emotional and physical difficulties of living with chronic, potentially debilitating diseases while dealing with the ignorance and misunderstanding of their diseases they encounter in society due to their healthy outer appearances. In spite of their daily battles with their autoimmune diseases, these women are able to triumph and live fulfilling lives. Beauty Does Lie also features commentary by highly regarded medical professionals in the Chicago community including, rheumatologist Dr. Adrienne Burford Foggs of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL and neurologist Dr. Tonya Fuller of Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, IL. Beauty Does Lie: The Untold Stories of Autoimmune Diseases was picked up for distribution in July 2007 by Fanlight Productions, Inc. Beauty Does Lie: The Untold Stories of Autoimmune Diseases has also won several awards, including being selected for presentation at the Western Psychological Association Convention and receiving a Merit Award for Video at the National Health Information Awards, both in 2008. Beauty Does Lie was also presented at the 2012 Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America National Conference in Las Vegas, NV. Beauty Does Lie: The Untold Stories of Autoimmune Diseases is now distributed by Control Your Auto Productions, Inc.

To obtain a copy of the award-winning documentary, Beauty Does Lie: The Untold Stories of Autoimmune Diseases CLICK HERE