Lupus is a crafty disease which flies under the radar of the general public.   However, for Amberly, Lupus is a very real disease that is on her radar all the time.  

In January 2007 while attending school in NY Amberly began to experience severe fatigue and mild joint pain.  These symptoms came with no warning and no reasonable explanation.  Amberly's symptoms worsened over the following months and it became increasingly difficult for her to perform normal everyday tasks.  Eventually her daily tasks became nearly impossible to perform.  In May of 2007 Amberly was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.), commonly called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can affect any organ of the body.  In lupus, the body's immune system, which normally functions to protect against foreign invaders, becomes hyperactive, forming antibodies that attack normal tissues and organs, including the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, and blood.  Lupus is characterized by periods of illness, called flares, and periods of wellness, or remission.

For Amberly and the people like her who suffer from lupus, research holds the key to better health—and the hope for a long life.  Ninety percent of lupus patients are women between the ages of 15 and 44, and death rates reportedly are rising.

It is going to take bold and innovative work to find answers for this centuries-old yet mysterious disease.  Currently government funding for Lupus initiatives is nearly flat.  Lupus research faces serious limitations that threaten to slow the pursuit of promising new leads, delay the application of hard won scientific insights to improving patient care, and impede efforts to test promising new drugs.

Donating to the Lupus Foundation of American through this site is simple, fast and totally secure.  It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts.  Many thanks for your support-- and please forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!