"In October 2018, I was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure resulting from lupus. My entire world collapsed.⁠ ⁠ At 28, I should care about making out on the dance floor, unpaid parking tickets and marathon-watching the show 'Fleabag.' I should be busying my days with travel and thinking about my next tattoo. Instead, my schedule is doctors appointments and surgeries and medication and protecting my compromised immune system.⁠ ⁠ I mourn the person I was before knowing my life would never be the same again."⁠ ⁠ Last Friday, poet and mental health advocate @TonyaInstagram passed away after years of living with lupus. Much of her poetry focuses on choosing self-compassion and hope in the face of depression, chronic illness, and adversity.⁠ ⁠ Tonya was someone who embodied what it means to live in one's "Option B" and we'll miss hearing from her all the wisdom she had to share on this. ⁠ ⁠ Swipe through for some of our favorite Tonya Ingram poems—we'd love to hear from you in the comments which lines resonate with you the most.⁠ ⁠ We're sending love to her family and friends 💙⁠ ⁠ 〰️⁠ ⁠ #TonyaIngram #SlamPoetry ⁠ #chronicillnessadvocate #chronicillness #lupuswarrior #autoimmunewarrior #spoonie #spoonielife #depressionpoems #mentalhealthart #slampoet