The book, Somewhere I Have Never Travelled, Gladly Beyond features photographs by Jennie Gunhammer. When I was first diagnosed with lupus — I might add finally — I researched books and information on lupus and came across her book. The book is not an informational guide about lupus, health, doctors or nutrition.  It is actually a book about her twin sister with Lupus SLE and her sister’s partner who also has Lupus SLE and Parkinson’s Disease. I thought it interesting because it is a photographic documentation of their lives living with lupus. The images capture them alone, in bed together surrounded by the daily trappings of life.

I love the words used to describe the photographs in the aforementioned book: “Moreover, the photographs challenge stale assumptions about, health, illness and the human body by documenting the experience of actually living with chronic illness.” Emphasis mine.

Swedish photographer and former model Jennie Gunhammar was diagnosed with Lupus in 2002 when she suffered a near-fatal flare. After overcoming the attack, Jennie had a new-found determination to realize her creative dreams, started photographing and gained a degree and two masters’ qualifications between 2002 and 2007.

Jennie Gunhammar

Unfortunately, after a seven-year battle with lupus, at age 34, Jennie Gunhammar lost her battle with lupus. Thinking she was suffering from food poisoning she went to bed. Later she called her partner to tell him she could not breath. He found her unconscious. Jennie was actually in cardiac arrest, which led to her brain swelling. Jennie was taken to the Royal Free Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Born in 1975 in Vakjo, Sweden, Jennie Gunhammer lived and worked in London.