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We Are ILL

@weareillmatic

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A nonprofit with a mission to unite Black women living with 🧡 MS and lupus 💜. Redefining what ✨sick✨ looks like. Founded by @picturethisvic

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Week 3. Still going. Still grateful. Still pushing.

Because of this community, we have raised $3,880 toward our $10,000 goal for MS Awareness Month. Every dollar is someone saying Black women living with MS, lupus, and NMOSD deserve more. And we feel that deeply.

But we are not done yet.

MS does not slow down halfway through the month. Neither do we. The connection, the education, the advocacy, the safe spaces. That work happens every single day and your support is what makes it possible.

We are in the final stretch of our Beyond Today, Powered by Possibility campaign. If you have already given, thank you. You are moving this mission forward in real time.

If you have been waiting for the right moment, this is it.
Tap the link in bio to donate. Let’s finish strong together.

#WeAreILLMatic #MSAwarenessMonth #BlackWomenWithMS #LupusAwareness #NMOSD by @weareillmatic

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7 months ago

Today marks the launch of ticket sales for our much-anticipated Wellness Week(end) in Atlanta! 🎟️✨

Last year’s event was pure magic, featuring heartfelt moments, empowering workshops, and vibrant community connections.

From interactive workshops to soul-soothing wellness activities, every moment captured is a testament to the strength and spirit of Black women living with MS. 🎥🧡

This look back not only shows the joy and empowerment from our last gathering but also sets the stage for what you can expect this November 1-3. It’s more than an event — it’s a celebration of us, for us, and by us.

👩🏾‍💻 Head over to our bio now, click the link, and secure your spot! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be part of this life-affirming weekend alongside your fellow sisters in MS and your spouses, caregivers, friends and family members.

We can’t wait to welcome you and grow our sisterhood. Let’s make this year’s Wellness Week(end) the best one yet!

#weareillamtic #mscommunity #blackwithms #sistersinms by @weareillmatic

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2 years ago

“You never know who’s behind that screen, who’s behind that keyboard, who may have just been crying last night or doesn’t have family to lean on, who doesn’t have a chronic illness sister to have that conversation with.”

That’s Naomi Rose (@nayrosee) from last year’s Wellness Week(end), and she put into words something that a lot of you have felt but maybe never said out loud.

She talked about what community and online presence actually mean when you’re living with a chronic illness. How it might look like “just content” from the outside, but for the woman who’s scrolling at midnight feeling like she’s the only one going through this, it’s so much more than that. It’s a safe space. It’s an eye-opener. It’s that moment where someone mentions something you’ve been dealing with and you finally feel seen and not alone.

Naomi is intentional about how she shows up. She brings her full self, dark humor and all, because she knows that showing up in her authenticity is going to reach whoever it’s meant to reach. And people have told her directly, “I’ve been in that space with you.” That’s what keeps her sharing, and nothing’s going to stop her.

She’s coming back to Wellness Week(end) this year, and honestly, being in the room with women like Naomi is the difference between reading about community and actually feeling it. The conversations that happen in person, the ones where you can just say, “Hey girl, I’m not feeling it today,” and somebody actually understands, that’s what this weekend is built for.

Wellness Week(end) 2026 is October 30 through November 1 at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead. We still have tickets.

Comment TICKET and we’ll send you the link.

#WeAreILLMatic #WellnessWeekend2026 #ChronicIllnessCommunity #BlackWomenWithMS #LupusAwareness by @weareillmatic

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7 hours ago

If you’ve ever wished your doctor would talk to you about all of your options, not just the ones that come with a list of side effects you’re already struggling with, you need to hear what Dr. Shoshana Robinson (@Dr. Shash_) has to say.

Dr. Robinson is a pharmacist and the clinical director of Truly Georgia, and she’s joining us at Wellness Week(end) 2026 to talk about something a lot of women in our community have been asking about: medical cannabis as a tool for managing chronic illness.

Because here’s what a lot of people don’t realize. When you’re living with lupus, MS, or NMOSD, the conventional medications can come with side effects that sometimes feel just as disruptive as the condition itself. And for a long time, patients in Georgia had very limited options when it came to medical cannabis, both in how you could take it and which conditions qualified.

That’s changing. SB 220 is expanding access in Georgia, adding new qualifying conditions, removing previous caps and limitations, and opening up new ways to use it, including inhalation for patients who need faster relief instead of waiting for a pill to metabolize.

Dr. Robinson is going to break all of this down at Wellness Week(end) so you can walk away understanding what’s available to you, how it works alongside your current treatment, and how to have that conversation with your care team.

This is the kind of session you won’t find anywhere else. Wellness Week(end) 2026 is October 30 through November 1 at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead, and we still have tickets available.

Comment TICKET and we’ll send you the link.

#WeAreILLMatic #WellnessWeekend2026 #MedicalCannabis #ChronicIllnessCommunity #BlackWomenWithMS by @weareillmatic

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7 hours ago

“How many of you were told by your neurologist, ‘Your MRI is stable,’ but you’re like, ‘I’m feeling worse’?”

Dr. Jakai Nolan McEwen (@jakthedoc) asked that question at last year’s Wellness Week(end), and almost every hand in the room went up. Because if you’re living with MS, you’ve probably had that exact moment where your body is telling you something is wrong and your scans are saying everything’s fine.

She also said something that gave a lot of women in the room hope: “If there was a time to get diagnosed with MS, now’s the time, because our medications are so good.” The research is catching up. The awareness is catching up. And the conversations happening in rooms like this are part of how we make sure you’re not left behind while it does.

And then Dr. Mima Akinsanya broke down why that disconnect between your MRI and your body happens in a way that finally made it make sense. She explained that about 30% to 40% of the progression we see in MS isn’t coming from relapses at all. It’s coming from something called PIRA, progression independent of relapse activity, also known as smoldering MS. She compared it to fire. A relapse is like lighting a match and watching a big flame cause damage quickly. Smoldering MS is a low, slow burn. It takes longer to see the damage, but the damage is still being done. Both are inflammation, but one shows up loud on an MRI and the other doesn’t, which is why your doctor says everything looks stable while you’re sitting there knowing something is different.

This is what happens at Wellness Week(end). You don’t just learn about your condition, you finally get the language to explain what you’ve been feeling to the people who need to hear it.

We still have tickets left for Wellness Week(end) 2026, October 30 through November 1 at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead. Don’t wait on this one.

Comment TICKET and we’ll send you the link.

#WeAreILLMatic #WellnessWeekend2026 #MultipleSclerosis #SmolderingMS #BlackWomenWithMS by @weareillmatic

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a day ago

“I got sick of me. I got sick of seeing myself because they would be like, ‘We need an African American patient. Who can we call? Victoria?’ I’m like, stop calling me. Because it should be more.”

That’s our founder Victoria (@picturethisvic) talking at last year’s Wellness Week(end) about why she started We Are ILL, and if that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about how this organization was built, nothing will.

She talked about sitting in rooms full of pharmaceutical reps and medical directors who were all asking each other what patients need and what patients want, and she’s looking around like, “Where are the patients? Why don’t y’all just ask them?” She talked about volunteering and realizing there weren’t enough patients in the room, not enough African Americans, not enough millennials, not enough girls with braids or tattoos. She said, “I just needed to see more of me.”

So she became the patient advocate who’s out here in these streets. Sitting on panels, going on talk shows, telling her story alongside healthcare professionals, and making sure the patient voice wasn’t just represented but actually heard.

And then she got to the point where she realized it couldn’t just be her story. She didn’t want to be a mascot. She wanted to hear from other Black women living with MS, lupus, and NMOSD, because she doesn’t know all the things and neither does any one person. That’s when We Are ILL was born.

This is the woman behind everything we do. And Wellness Week(end) is the room she built so you’d never have to wonder where the patients are, because you’re surrounded by them.

Wellness Week(end) 2026 is October 30 through November 1 at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead.

Comment TICKET and we’ll send you the link.

#WeAreILLMatic #WellnessWeekend2026 #PatientAdvocacy #BlackWomenWithMS #ChronicIllnessCommunity by @weareillmatic

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a day ago

The official Wellness Week(end) 2026 schedule is here, and we weren’t playing when we said this year’s theme is Beyond Limits.

Three days. Mind, Body, and Soul. Every single session was built with you in mind.

Friday is all about the Mind. We’re kicking things off with a keynote from Montel Williams, diving into strategies for regulating your nervous system, holding space for caregivers in our Love in Action session, and getting real about diagnosis, avoidance, acceptance, and identity. And when the sun goes down, we’re not done, the After Dark Pajamas + Pleasure Party is closing out the night.

Saturday is Body. We’re moving with adaptive fitness, breaking into support group sessions for both those living with chronic illness and care partners, exploring the connection between lupus and hair loss in our Shop Chats session, talking about sleep as resistance, hearing directly from providers in Dear Patients, and getting into the therapeutic role of medical cannabis in MS. VIP ticket holders, your exclusive dinner is Saturday evening.

Sunday is Soul. We’re ending the weekend with laughter courtesy of Ayanna Dookie, closing remarks from our founder Victoria Reese Brathwaite (@picturethisvic), and honoring our Healthcare Provider of the Year, Patient of the Year, and Member of the Year before we come together for the Shades of Melanin group photo.

This is three days you don’t want to miss. October 30th through November 1st at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead. Swipe through to see the full schedule, and if you don’t have your ticket yet, October 16th is the last day to get one.
Comment TICKET below and we’ll send you the link.

#WeAreILLMatic #WellnessWeekend2026 #BeyondLimits #ChronicIllnessCommunity #BlackWomenWellness by @weareillmatic

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2 days ago

This is it. October 16 is the last day to grab your ticket to Wellness Week(end) 2026, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. We’re not doing extensions, we’re not doing “maybe next time,” we’re doing this October 30 through November 1 at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead, and we want you there.

This year’s theme is Beyond Limits, and we mean that in every way. Three days of sessions, conversations, and connections built specifically for Black women living with MS, lupus, and NMOSD, the kind of weekend where you walk in carrying everything and walk out feeling seen, heard, and reminded that you’re not doing this alone.

General Admission is $200 and VIP is $375, and whether you’ve been before or this is your first time, you’re walking into a room full of women who get it without you having to explain a single thing. That’s not something you can put a price on, but we tried to keep it accessible because that’s how we move.

Don’t let October 16 pass you by and then wish you’d made the move. Your future self will thank you for saying yes to this one.

Comment TICKET below and we’ll send you the link to secure your spot.

#WeAreILLMatic #WellnessWeekend2026 #BeyondLimits #ChronicIllnessCommunity #BlackWomenWellness by @weareillmatic

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3 days ago

“It gives us that authentic communication to see what our common factors are, but also what the differences are all over the world—and figure out how we can connect with each other and help each other.”

For Roxy Murray of @multiplesclerosisfashionista, one of the most powerful aspects of Patient Community Day was the chance to connect with people living with MS from across the globe.

Beyond the expert presentations and latest research updates, Patient Community Day creates space for meaningful conversations, shared experiences, and a stronger sense of community. It’s a reminder that while every MS journey is different, no one has to navigate it alone.

🌍 Connect with people from around the world
🎓Learn from leading MS, NMOSD and MOGAD experts
❓Hear answers to real questions from the community
🗣️Access the event in 50+ languages

Join thousands of people worldwide on 23 October for Patient Community Day 2026.

🔗 Register today: www.ectrimspatientcommunity.eu/registration

#PatientCommunityDay #PCD2026 #MSCommunity #MultipleSclerosis #NMOSD MOGAD MSAwareness ECTRIMS by @weareillmatic

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4 days ago

This is a moment for the history books, and our entire community should be celebrating!

The Georgia House of Representatives has officially adopted a resolution recognizing October 25–31, 2026, as WE ARE ALL ILL WEEK!

This historic recognition honors our legacy of connecting, educating, and inspiring Black women living with MS, lupus, endometriosis, and other chronic illnesses. Even more meaningful, We Are ILL’s contributions are now part of Georgia’s official legislative record, cementing this milestone in our history.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rep. Kim Schofield, the resolution’s lead sponsor, alongside Reps. Viola Davis, Sandra Scott, Marvin Lim, and Park Cannon, for championing our mission and helping elevate the voices of our community.

To every woman who has shared her story, advocated for herself, or found sisterhood through We Are ILL, this moment belongs to YOU!

We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and we hope you are, too.

Our voices matter. Our impact is undeniable. And our legacy is still being written!

#WeAreILLmatic #ChronicIllnessCommunity #WeAreILLWeek #GAResolution by @weareillmatic

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4 days ago

“I group chat with my NMO peeps all day. I’m like, girl, I am exhausted. She’s like, girl, I’m exhausted too. She’s like, girl, I just ordered some magnesium rub. I’m like, girl, send me the link.”

That’s Marion Jones (@_theothermj) at last year’s Wellness Week(end), and honestly that moment had the whole room laughing because every single person in there knew exactly what she was talking about.

But before the laughter, Marion shared something deeper. She talked about the friend who became her first caregiver by default, the one who told her to go to the ER after she’d been nursing a headache for weeks. She talked about being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, spending time in the ICU, going through plasma pheresis, and being released from rehab unable to prepare a meal for herself. For a year, most of her days were spent bedridden.

And what got her through wasn’t just treatment. It was people. The ones who showed up without being asked and loved on her through the hardest season of her life.

That’s what she came to Wellness Week(end) to talk about: the power of chosen family. She said, “Nothing against my biological family, who I love, but there’s something about the chosen family in the autoimmune disease space because they’re people who speak your language.”

That’s what this event is. It’s a room full of women who don’t need you to over-explain, who already know why today was hard, and who will send you the magnesium rub link without you having to ask twice.

Wellness Week(end) 2026 is October 30 through November 1 at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead. Be in the room.

Comment TICKET and we’ll send you the link.

#WeAreILLMatic #WellnessWeekend2026 #ChronicIllnessCommunity #MSCommunity #NMOSDAwareness by @weareillmatic

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7 days ago

We were on the news today! Our founder Victoria Reese Brathwaite (@picturethisvic) sat down with @AishaHoward on @11Alive to talk about Wellness Week(end) 2026, and if you’ve been wondering what all the excitement is about, this conversation will tell you everything you need to know.

Aisha isn’t just one of Atlanta’s most trusted news anchors, she’s also returning for her second year as our Wellness Week(end) host, and hearing her and Victoria talk about what’s coming October 30th through November 1st at the JW Marriott Atlanta Buckhead will give you chills in the best way.

This year’s theme is Beyond Limits, and that’s exactly what this weekend is built to help you do. Three days of expert-led sessions, real conversations, and a room full of Black women living with MS, lupus, and NMOSD who don’t need you to explain what your day-to-day looks like because they already know.

If you’ve been on the fence about getting your ticket, let this be the sign you’ve been waiting for. General Admission is $200, VIP is $375, and October 16th is the last day to grab yours.

Thank you @AishaHoward for helping us spread the word and for being part of this incredible weekend again. And thank you @11Alive for giving our community this platform, it means more than you know.

Comment TICKET below and we’ll send you the link to get yours before they’re gone.

#WeAreILLMatic #WellnessWeekend2026 #BeyondLimits #11Alive #ChronicIllnessCommunity by @weareillmatic

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8 days ago