I can still recall the day my life changed forever... it was March 30, 2016. I went to my doctors office to obtain lab results after having a reoccurring battle with migraines and joint pain. I was tired of trying different medications to temporarily bandage the ailments so I requested a full blood panel. My doctor sat closely to me and started going through pages of results line by line… “vitamin D deficiency… elevated LFT … very abnormal SED rate... these are indications of LUPUS." She kept talking but it’s like she spoke in a different language because I didn't hear anything else she said after that. I only heard the word LUPUS, a disease for which there is NO CURE. The following week my rheumatologist confirmed the diagnosis... my thoughts were in a tail spin and I was an emotional wreck!
Imagine walking out of your doctor’s office feeling helpless and thinking that your future is uncertain… Now, Imagine a day when doctors can say, “There is a cure for lupus.”
Until that day though, there is work to be done...
That’s why I’m taking action in the fight against lupus. Join me as I participate in Lupus Foundation of America’s Walk to End Lupus Now™ in San Antonio to raise critical funds for the estimated 1.5 million people living with lupus in the United States.
Will you make a donation to help me reach my personal fundraising goal and support the Foundation's efforts to improve the quality of life for me and all people affected by lupus? Every single dollar counts.
Did you know?
- Lupus is a mysterious and misunderstood autoimmune disease. It strikes without warning, affects each person differently, and has no known causes or cure.
- Lupus symptoms can be severe and highly unpredictable and can damage any organ or tissue, from the skin or joints to the heart or kidneys.
- While lupus can strike anyone at any time, 90% of people living with lupus are women. Women of color are at especially high risk.
- Only one drug has ever been developed and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration specifically to treat the disease.
I'm a mom, a wife, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, and a friend but I'm also a survivor and a FIGHTER. I know I can't do this alone but TOGETHER we can solve the cruel mystery of lupus. Thank you for your generosity! I appreciate you.
All My Love, Audrie
