Nothing Can Stop the Music: Claudia’s Lupus Journey and Her Band of Supporters at Manning Family Children’s

When Claudia Arguelles first noticed her fingertips turning bluish and white when it was cold, she chalked it up to nerves. A devoted clarinetist, she was getting ready for her freshman year in high school and was already active in the Dutchtown Sound, her high school’s state-champion band.  

But, as any high school band member knows all too well, when it comes to summer band camp, every student must get ready to be at the top of their game—for every football game in the upcoming season. 

“I started noticing my symptoms during summer band camp before ninth grade,” Claudia said. “My hands would ​​turn white, and it felt like the circulation was getting cut off. It kept happening more and more.” 

At first, doctors suspected Raynaud’s syndrome, a vascular condition that can cause such symptoms. But over time, things worsened, and Claudia began experiencing joint stiffness, redness in her face, and overwhelming fatigue. Despite efforts to manage symptoms by keeping her body warm and avoiding stress, her ​symptoms worsened.​ 

“I was feeling so frustrated,” said her mother, Carolina Munguia. “Claudia kept getting ​​sick and she was missing school from the recurrences. It was one thing after the other including strep, COVID, and flu. Between being sick and what we thought was Raynaud’s, two years went by.”  

In October 2023, a referral from their local pediatrician in Prairieville, LA. brought them to Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans, part of LCMC Health, where they met Anita Dhanrajani, MD, a pediatric rheumatologist who specializes in rheumatic diseases and autoimmune conditions. Instantly, both Carolina and Claudia said they felt in their hearts they found the physician who was going to help.  

“Dr. Anita Was So Focused and Clear” 

Claudia said she vividly remembers her first visit with Dr. Dhanrajani. 

“I was really scared, I hadn’t spent any time in hospitals,” she admitted. “But Dr. Anita was so outgoing and nice. She was different from any doctor I’d ever met. She talked to me directly and made me feel comfortable.” 

Dr. Dhanrajani’s approach was thorough and intuitive. She asked detailed questions, made direct eye contact, and reviewed Claudia’s family history. This is something no other provider had explored and, as it turns out, it’s one thing that really mattered, said Carolina. 

“Right away, she saw the butterfly-shaped redness across her face and said she wanted to rule out lupus,” Carolina recalled. “I hadn’t even thought about my own mother’s kidney disease and autoimmune history. But Dr. Anita was so focused and clear. I knew we were finally in the right hands.” 

Bloodwork confirmed what they feared; it was lupus. More formally known as systemic lupus erythematosus, this is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own tissues, including skin, joints and potentially organs. 

Learning to Live with Lupus   

For Claudia, the diagnosis came with a wave of uncertainty. “I didn’t even know what lupus was. My friends said, ‘That’s what Selena Gomez has,’ and I had to Google it. At first, I was scared, but then I saw people like Nick Cannon, Paula Abdul, Seal, and even Beethoven living their lives and thought, ‘If they can live with lupus, so can I.’” 

Carolina said Claudia’s hope was reinforced by something Dr. Dhanrajani told them: “I’m not a good doctor if I can’t help you live a normal life.” 

Claudia now manages her condition with daily medication. She must be aware of her stress levels and get plenty of rest. Since lupus symptoms often flare up because of stress or ultraviolet light (sun) exposure, Claudia also has to make sure she wears plenty of sun protection. 

Carolina is appreciative of Children’s, Claudia’s doctors, and the pharmacy at Manning Family Children’s Hospital. Claudia has difficulty swallowing pills and the medication Dr. Dhanrajani prescribed only comes in pill form. That is until the hospital pharmacist agreed to make a liquid compound of her medication, Plaquenil.  

“The pharmacy at Children’s was amazing. They ship her medication on ice every month,” Carolina said. “And if we ever have questions, we send a message through MyChart and hear back within 24 hours. That responsiveness means everything to us.” 

Claudia now has follow-up appointments with Dr. Dhanrajani but the physician has made it very clear she is available through the online patient portal whenever they have questions.  

Marching Forward 

Despite the challenges, Claudia never let lupus sideline her love for music. She earned a spot in the prestigious Louisiana Youth ​​Orchestra, where she was principal clarinetist for two of the three years she participated. And, in her senior year, she finally made the LMEA All-State band after two years of trying. 

This fall, she began classes at Louisiana State University where she plans to study criminology. And, of course, she is auditioning for the “Golden Band from Tigerland,” LSU’s marching band.  

“Band has always been my happy place,” Claudia said. “It’s where I made friends who support me no matter what.” In fact, one of those band friends will be her college roommate. 

“I think it’s important to spread awareness about this disease,” Claudia added, “so that others who don’t know they have lupus can understand the symptoms. This was especially important to me in having supportive teachers, family and friends who were by my side when I needed them most.” 

She still gets occasional flare-ups. “Sometimes I wake up stiff or nauseous. But I’ve learned what my body needs. And I’ve learned that I can still do what I ​​love.” 

When she visits the rheumatology department at Children’s now, it’s not with fear. “Claudia lights up when we go there,” Carolina said. “Dr. Anita has become like family. She’s charismatic, dependable, and funny. And she continues to really connect, even with someone quiet like Claudia.” 

Claudia said she knows it sounds a bit odd that she looks forward to her checkups. “The nurses are so kind and always listen to me. And Dr. Anita is incredibly supportive and wonderful,” Claudia said. “And sometimes they even have jazz musicians playing in the lobby. That’s really calming for me.” 

For more information about the Rheumatology Department at Manning Family Children’s, please visit: https://www.manningchildrens.org/services/rheumatology/ 

For more information about Manning Family Children’s in New Orleans, please visit: https://www.manningchildrens.org/ 

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About Manning Family Children’s:

Manning Family Children’s is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Manning Family Children’s offers a comprehensive array of specialized pediatric services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, Children’s operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Children’s offers primary care at 17 convenient locations, along with a network of statewide pediatric affiliations. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at manningchildrens.org.