PETALING JAYA: When most teenagers were planning their future, Pavithra Charles (pic) was learning how to live with a lifelong autoimmune disease.
Today, despite years of chronic pain, powerful medication and missed classes, the 32-year-old mother of one has earned three qualifications, built two businesses and transformed one of her biggest struggles into a source of inspiration.
At 18, shortly after completing her SPM, Pavithra, from Teluk Panglima Garang, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
Several years later, she was also diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her knee.
“I remember carrying my laptop one day and suddenly feeling like my elbow had locked up. I couldn’t move properly and had to sit down to calm myself.
“That was when I underwent my first blood test and found out what was happening,” she recalled.
“I thought it was curable. Then the doctors explained that it was a lifelong condition that would progressively affect my joints.”
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune and systemic inflammatory disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints.
The diagnosis came at a difficult time. While pursuing a diploma in patisserie, Pavithra struggled to cope with the physical demands of long practical classes.
“When I advanced to the higher levels, I would come home with bruises and swollen hands. Sometimes my hand would swell to twice its normal size. I couldn’t even recognise it,” she said.
“I really wanted to quit pastry- making. But instead, I switched to steroids and pushed through the final three months.
“My father kept telling me not to give up. That gave me the strength to continue.”
Over the years, Pavithra underwent various treatments, from conventional medicine to traditional remedies.
But she said her toughest period began when doctors prescribed chemotherapy drugs to manage the disease.
“That was when the side effects became severe. I developed scalp inflammation and experienced significant hair and weight loss.”
The debilitating side effects lasted for more than a decade and yet, Pavithra refused to let the disease define her.
Instead, she chose to focus on living as normally as possible.
That determination carried her through years of study.
Despite her health challenges, Pavithra completed diplomas in patisserie and communications, and later, a law degree.
After operating a pastry business for several years, Pavithra eventually found inspiration for a new venture in one of the most painful side effects of her treatment – severe hair loss.
“Losing so much hair affected my confidence tremendously. I started experimenting with herbal ingredients because conventional products weren’t helping.”
With support from her parents, she developed a water-based herbal hair mist free from alcohol and preservatives.
The product eventually became the foundation of her brand, which was launched last year.
“As my hair gradually grew back, so did my confidence,” she said.
Looking back, Pavithra believes rheumatoid arthritis forced her to discover strengths she never knew she had.
“An illness is only one chapter of your life. You can’t keep waiting for motivation or asking others to inspire you.
“What you need is consistent discipline. Once you have that, you’ll always find a way forward.”
