Two families set up a lemonade stand on a street corner in southern California several years ago. Their goal: raise money to help find a cure for Juvenile Myositis (JM), a potentially debilitating and life-threatening rare autoimmune disease affecting their children. This is how the story of the Cure JM Foundation begins. The story has many chapters and I hope you can help us give it a happy ending!

Our daughter Megan became a part of that story when she was diagnosed with juvenile myositis (JM) in 2004 at the age of 12.  JM affects the muscles and the small blood vessels and quickly Megan became too weak to climb stairs, brush her hair, lift her head and had difficulty swallowing.  After much aggressive treatment, Megan has responded well and continues to strive for remission. 

Megan was recently interviewed by teenage girls affected by JM for the Cure JM newsletter and was asked "How has JM affected the person you are today?" 

She responded:  "It has made me a stronger person.  I always have the perspective in mind of what I've gone through and how it has changed me.  It changed me so much physically, but I tried my hardest not to let it change me emotionally or change my personality.  I didn't want it to make me into a cynical person.  I tried my hardest to keep my faith up, and of course it was hard.  I had to keep those motivating words from my mom and friends in mind the entire time.  JM has given me a whole new perspective on life.  I try not to take my health for granted.  It has kind of given me the everything-happens-for-a-reason attitude.  It has made my faith a lot stronger and I feel lucky to have this outlook!

Please support Cure JM Foundation’s participation in Seattle's Rock & Roll Marathon and Half Marathon in Seattle, Washington on the weekend of June 25, 2011. A team of runners and volunteers -- including the Lawler family – will be participating to help raise awareness and funds for finding a cure. Funds raised from support of the event will fund research grants and other JM programs in 2011 - 2012. 

Let's make a cure for Juvenile Myositis the final chapter of this story!

If you prefer to donate by check, please make the contribution payable to Cure JM Foundation and mail it to:

Cure JM Foundation, 836 Lynwood Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024

 

 With appreciation and gratitude,

Patti Lawler -Secretary Cure JM   and   Jeff Lawler- proud father of Megan