Youth

When Lloyd Matheny was six days old, he was introduced to his foster mom, who adopted him after caring for him for a year. He grew up in an attentive, loving family on Chicago’s South Side – overcoming a congenital foot ailment. Today, he is a student at National Louis University studying social work, with a passion for poetry and helping others.

When Lloyd Matheny was six days old, he was introduced to his foster mom, who later adopted him after caring for him for a year. He grew up in an attentive, loving family on Chicago’s South Side – overcoming a congenital foot ailment. Today, he is a junior at National Louis University studying social work, with an innate passion for poetry and helping others.

For as long as she could remember, Daijah Pierce was interested in the health care field. But she never expected to get a first-hand view of the profession – until, she was diagnosed with Lupus shortly after starting high school. Lupus, an inflammatory disease caused by the immune system attacking its own tissues, took an excruciating toll. Today, she battles the condition daily.