My daughter Laura Dour has been diagnosed with Sjögren’s (pronounced "SHOW-grins") Syndrome. Sjögren’s Syndrome is a progressive autoimmune disease that most people, including me until a few months ago, have never heard of and therefore is in need of extensive research and awareness.
With Sjögren’s Syndrome the body’s immune system wages war upon its moisture producing glands. In Laura’s case it has lead to debilitating dryness of glands, fatigue and joint pain and other systemic ailments.
Our bodies are mostly water, so you can imagine the catastrophic problems that happen when various parts of your body start drying up. Imagine Laura (you) having to peel back her eyelids to blink and having minimal saliva to swallow, let alone eat.
Yet the real longer term danger of this syndrome comes from her body’s immune system. Sjogren’s causes her immune system to produce an abnormal amount of autoantibodies in her blood which turn against her various tissues and organs and result in the Inflammation of her glands.
Treatments exist to ONLY help cope with the symptoms. There is no cure!
On October 24th Team Dour is participating in a Sjögren’s Walkabout. By participating in this walkabout, we hope to raise money so science can one day find a cure for Laura and the millions of other people who live with this disease and reverse the damage.
As a father and grandfather I am asking you donate to Team Dour to further Sjogran's research. There is no minimum to donate online. Please click on "Sponsor Us Now" to donate. Thank you!!!
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support our fundraising efforts. If everyone donates even a nominal amount, we can raise enough money to help make a difference!
If you would care to join us at this special event, please stroll with us as we raise money and awareness for Sjögren's Syndrome research!
2009 Chicago Sjögren's Walkabout & Autoimmune Disease Health Fair
When: Saturday October 24, 2009 10:00AM - 12:00PM
Where: Yorktown Center (Highland Ave./Butterfield Road) Lombard, IL
(visit the
Yorktown Center Mall website for information on location & directions)
For those of you who would like to know more the About.com article “What is Sjögren's Syndrome?” and the Wikipedia page on Sjögren's Syndrome can tell you far more than I can or click on “TEAM DOUR” above and let Laura tell you herself.
Please forward this to anyone who you think might be interested in learning more about Sjogren's Syndrome and making a donation.