About

Meet

Shamekka

Shamekka Marty's life is a testament to resilience and determination. Originally from New Jersey, she now resides in the Bay Area, California, with her husband Henry and their three children: Amaru, Alejandra, and Antonio. Their household is also filled with the joy of two puppies named Luna and Lilo.

Shamekka's educational journey began at Williamstown High School before she pursued a degree in International Business from Rutgers University. Eager for further knowledge, she obtained certifications in Project Management, Scrum Master, and Cybersecurity from Rutgers School of Business.

Professionally, Shamekka wears many hats. She excels as a Cybersecurity Project Manager and is deeply involved in healthcare IT. Her passion for advocacy is evident through her roles as a Motivational Speaker, Patient Advocate for Interoperability, and Patient Leader for Health Union. Additionally, she serves as a Social Media Influencer for Chronic Illness, and sits on the board of several organizations, including Chairwoman of The Las Positas College Paramedic Advisory Board, President of the Yathom Foundation, the Lupus Foundation of America SF and the Lupus Foundation of Northern California.

learn more
ABOUT SHAMEKKA

Shamekka's journey has been marked by adversity, beginning at a young age when she cared for family members with severe health conditions. Since the age of 10, she has been taking care of relatives. Her Nana was stricken with severe RA and bedridden for the last 20 yrs of her life. Her mother took her Nana in as a single mother of 2 kids and had Lupus. When they passed she started to take care of Uncle til this day who has HIV. Not to mention she became a teen mom at age 16 so her whole life has been taking care of people.

Her own health challenges, including a Lupus diagnosis at age 30 and subsequent kidney transplant in 2023, have only strengthened her resolve to inspire others. She has experienced everything for a stroke, to a hysterectomy and most recently a kidney transplant. All of these life experiences encouraged her to advocate now on a legislative level. She most recently received an award from the Sequoia Project in 2023 for her advocacy and was asked by the National Director of Healthcare IT in Washington, DC this past December regarding patient access to medical records.

Despite battling overlapping autoimmune diseases, her positivity shines through both in person and on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, where she shares the ups and downs of her journey under the handle @prettysickchick. Her story serves as a beacon of hope for those facing similar struggles, reminding us all of the power of resilience and the importance of community support.