Hi
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!
Many of you know my story with Lupus. I began showing signs of Lupus when I was 18 and in my first year of college. I was not diagnosed with the disease until 1995 when I was only 21 years old. I had just been blessed with my first child, Mikayla. After her birth my body just went downhill. I remember thinking that I must be going crazy. How could I have a new crazy symptom everyday? How am I supposed to care for this sweet baby girl and my husband? The next few months that followed my diagnoses included a life flight trip to a hospital in SLC, exploratory surgery, weeks in the ICU, rehabilitation, chemotherapy for my kidneys, and then years of juggling medications to try to find something that would control my pain from arthritis, rashes, headaches, kidney disease, depression, fatigue, & more.
This photo was taken while I was in the ICU at LDS hospital in 1995. Lupus is a very real and very serious auto-immune disease. I have been blessed with amazing physicians that have help me get to where I am today. They have helped me bring another daughter into our family. Although that venture was a huge strain on both my own life and my sweet little Lauren's life, we are so grateful for the family we have. Many people will look at us with Lupus and say, "You don't look sick." Well, let me tell you ...I AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED!!! :-)
Last year because of your support I was the top fundraiser for our walk here in SLC, UT. I was overwhelmed by the support of all of my family and friends! THANK YOU!!! The walk itself was very emotional for me. I am so blessed to have such an amazing support system around me! To see all of the people there supporting the cause was amazing! To hear the personal accounts of how Lupus has affected member of my community were touching. I truly felt loved and supported by everyone.
I am so grateful for the love and support of my family and friends, especially my husband Derk and my daughters Mikayla and Lauren. They see the ups and downs of this illness every day. Thanks for your love and support.
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.
Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
Love,
Heather Kapp