Living with Lupus can sometimes be unbearable but I don't let this misterious disease stop me! I was diagnosed seven years ago, at the age of 16. Now I am trying to help other people who haven't had the life I've been able to have, living with Lupus. I am trying to raise funds for the Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania for lupus research so maybe one day there will be a cure for this debilitating disease.

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. The body's immune system normally makes proteins called antibodies to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens. In an autoimmune disorder such as lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances (antigens) and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against "self." These antibodies, called "auto-antibodies," react with the "self" antigens to form immune complexes. The immune complexes build up in the tissues and can cause inflammation, injury to tissues, and pain. For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. More than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year. It is estimated that 1.4 to 2 million Americans have been diagnosed with lupus, making it more common than leukemia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis - combined.



The idea that lupus is generally a fatal disease is one of the gravest misconceptions about this illness. In fact, the prognosis of lupus is much better today than ever before. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus and some people do die from complications of the disease. Better diagnostic techniques and evaluation methods and a more cautious use of medications have given physicians the tools to more effectively manage lupus symptoms and complications. Today, with early diagnosis and current methods of therapy, 80-90 percent of the people with lupus can look forward to a normal lifespan.

Please help by donating to this charitable cause or help by volunteering. If you have any questions or concerns please email me at smc917@psu.edu. Thank you!