Sharesha Sneed has been with Vaughan Regional Medical Center for most of her adult life.

She has spent 16 years with the hospital, working in various departments. She now serves as Vaughan’s Meditech coordinator, where she maintains the software that physicians, nurses and providers use in the hospital.

“My position changes from day to day according to whatever hat I’m wearing that day and whatever they need,” Sneed said.

In addition to maintaining the software, Sneed also trains anyone that comes in contact with the program. She is also an employees’ advocate.

“I go around and make sure we take care of our employees, make them happy. I make everyone happy around here,” Sneed said.

She also heads up the hospital’s activities committee, which includes serving as team leader for Vaughan’s Relay For Life team. She is also working on another cause that hits close to home: a lupus support group.

Sneed has lupus, which is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue and organs.

Lupus can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs according to mayoclinic.org.

“I’ve had it for 16 years or more. I found out 16 years ago. I’m trying to get a support group here because we’ve been having more patients that are finding out they have lupus, and lots of times people don’t know how to cope with that,” Sneed said.

Sneed has traveled to local conferences to learn more about lupus support group, which helps patients cope with the disease, both physically and mentally.

“We don’t have a cure for lupus. We don’t even have proper medications for lupus because it’s something that varies for each individual patients. It’s hard to diagnose. People aren’t being diagnosed in a good time frame.”

Sneed said she would like to have the support group organized by October.

A native of Plantersville, Sneed is a graduate of Dallas County High School and Wallace Community College Selma. She is also working on her bachelor’s degree to advance her career.

She has two children, a 21-year-old daughter and a 17-year-old son who is a senior at Dallas County this year.

“I started early,” Sneed said.

She is also involved at Elyton Baptist Church in Plantersville, where she sings with the choir.