Consequence Opens Up About The Hardest Part Of His Lupus Diagnosis
Until the Queens rapper received the life-altering news that he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease earlier this year, Consequence thought Lupus predominantly affected Black women.
He spoke to TMZ about the diagnosis, saying “when I was diagnosed with it, I was like ‘Okay.” The hardest part was when his 9-year-old son, Caiden, thought he might have to say goodbye to his father.
“He might not have said it out loud but I know at one point he thought he might have to say ‘goodbye.’ That’s a lot for a child to have to deal with,” Consequence said. Now, the rapper hopes that he can be an example for other Black men facing similar circumstances.
“I would love to be a conduit as my journey continues for those who may be where I am at, a couple steps behind me,” he said. “Or a couple steps ahead of me, and maybe I’m just the voice that spread the message.”
The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans, and at least five million people worldwide, have lupus.
Consequence, who also has Type II diabetes, shared the candid confession during a listening session for new EP, Things Are Different Now. Opening up to HipHopDX about his battle with lupus and diabetes, the rapper first noticed something was wrong when he felt a sharp pain in his neck after his son jumped on his back.
He assumed the issue would go away on its own but it got worse. So, he visited his primary physician who prescribed him with muscle relaxers to help ease the pain. However, his condition took a turn for the worse after the muscle relaxers caused inflammation throughout his body.
At first, Consequence feared he had contracted COVID-19 since this was all happening right when the outbreak began and he had just flown to Los Angeles from Paris. He eventually called Kanye West and his wife, Kim Kardashian-West, who helped set him up at an urgent care center to get tested where doctors diagnosed him with lupus in June.
Earlier this week, Consequence posted a throwback photo from his son’s birthday party in commemoration of his journey.
“I was body shamed when I posted this pic on 8.17.20. I was [approximately] 113 [pounds] and some a**holes said I looked like ‘an old junkie,’” he wrote. “Lupus + Diabetes has been kicking my a** for [seven] months straight. But…oddly enough I was getting better as [two] weeks before that I was 105 [pounds] and my sugar was in the 500’s from being on steroids. But I was determined to wish my son a happy birthday because, as you can see, it could have been the last time. God’s will is God’s will. This is my story and I’m [going to] tell it my way. Wait till you see me now.”
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He also shared another heartwarming photo of his son enveloped in his arms, and one of him and Kanye together, writing, ‘Me and my brother Kanye…Thank you for helping me fight for my life.”
