At last, her prince found her ✨ #TBT to the most perfect pre-wedding rehearsal, photoshoot and dinner celebrating Lauren & Charlie’s forever lovership 🩷
🌟It was an honor to be joined by @sumairaflower to hear her story of perseverance in the face of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), her amazing story of founding the 🩷💛@thesumairafoundation 💛🩷 in the midst of her treatment odyssey, and the foundation’s work illuminating the darkness of rare neuroimmune disorders.🌟
@nashafitter welcomed Sumaira in the first of our series of 🎙️Citizen Health Conversations🎙️ — bringing rare disease community leaders into our HQ to share stories and perspectives with our community.
Learn more about the Sumaira Foundation and its mission of Illuminating rare neuroimmune disorders ➡️
Sign up for Citizen Health’s free platform to ease the care navigation burden on rare disease patients and caregivers while advancing research ➡️ www.citizen.health
See the full conversation on YouTube: /watch?v=Q4VRixmF_6Q
#RareDisease #NMOSD #NMO #PatientAdvocacy #RareNeuroimmune #PatientStories #RareDiseaseAwareness #CitizenHealth
I am excited to share that I’ve been accepted into the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program at Harvard Business School as part of the summer 2026 cohort.
When I founded The Sumaira Foundation (TSF) 12 years ago, I stepped into the nonprofit world while navigating my own illness, without formal training, but with a strong sense of purpose. I leaned on lived experience, listened closely to our community and focused on addressing the gaps patients and families were facing every day.
Today, TSF has grown into a global organization with expanding programs, partnerships and impact. I’m proud of how far we’ve come, and I’m equally motivated to keep learning so I can lead thoughtfully into our next chapter.
I’m looking forward to learning from the HBS faculty and alongside my fellow classmates and bringing those insights back to strengthen and scale the work we do for our community around the world.
🇪🇸 Sumaira , fundadora de “The Sumaira Foundation” 🇪🇸
A los 25, su vida cambió de la noche a la mañana: perdió la visión y fue diagnosticada con neuromielitis óptica (NMO), una enfermedad rara y autoinmune.
“¿Voy a sobrevivir?”
Sin respuestas, sin comunidad y sin recursos, decidió actuar.
💡 Dos meses después fundó The Sumaira Foundation para que nadie se sienta solo.
Hoy apoya a pacientes en más de 30 países.
💬 “Si puedo ayudar aunque sea a una sola persona, merece la pena.”
⸻
🇵🇹 Sumaira, fundadora da “The Sumaira Foundation” 🇵🇹
Aos 25, a sua vida mudou de um dia para o outro: perdeu a visão e foi diagnosticada com neuromielite óptica (NMO), uma doença rara e autoimune.
“Vou sobreviver?”
Sem respostas, sem comunidade, decidiu agir.
💡 Dois meses depois fundou a The Sumaira Foundation para que ninguém se sinta sozinho.
Hoje apoia pacientes em mais de 30 países.
💬 “Se eu puder ajudar nem que seja uma pessoa, vale a pena.”
⸻
🟡🔴🟡🔴 Sumaira, fundadora de “The Sumaira Foundation” 🟡🔴🟡🔴
Als 25, la seva vida va canviar completament: va perdre la visió i va ser diagnosticada amb neuromielitis òptica (NMO), una malaltia rara i autoimmune.
“Sobreviuré?”
Sense respostes ni comunitat, va decidir actuar.
💡 Dos mesos després va fundar The Sumaira Foundation perquè ningú se senti sol.
Avui dona suport a pacients en més de 30 països.
💬 “Si puc ajudar encara que sigui una persona, val la pena.”
