Hi everyone! Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!!
As many of you may already know, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis almost five years ago. Recently, my doctors have discovered I am also battling Lupus. When Reed and I found out, we were a bit distraught as we knew very little about the disease. Through many doctor visits and discussions, as well as many hours of research, we have learned much over the past several months about Lupus and what may be in store for our future. I am happy to say I am currently undergoing treatment for the disease and doing well so far! It will be a long road ahead, but with your support, maybe someday there will be a cure!!!
Lupus, the least known major illness, is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease, attacking mostly women between the ages of 15 and 45. With Lupus, the body makes antibodies which attack virtually any tissue and organ within the body. Some commonly affected areas are the kidneys, lungs, heart, brain, skin, blood, muscles, and joints. Symptoms include muscle pain, achy, painful and/or swollen joints for more than 3 months, extreme fatigue, a rash made worse by sunlight, low-grade fevers, hair loss, pleurisy, sores in the mouth or nose, sensitivity of the fingers or toes to cold (Raynaud’s Syndrome), prominent redness or color change in the shape of a butterfly over your nose and cheeks, protein in your urine, and low blood counts. Typically, symptoms come and go with Lupus. Inflammation and pain can also change locations, sometimes from one day to the next and even within the same day. Since inflammation and pain can be so transient and the associated symptoms often mimic other diseases, a diagnosis is often difficult to make; it sometimes takes 5 or more years to do. This is why Lupus is also referred to as “The Great Imitator.” Taking so long to diagnose the disease often leaves the patient suffering, without a definitive diagnosis or effective treatment options. With early diagnosis and treatment, 80-90% of people with Lupus can look forward to a normal lifespan. If left undiagnosed and/or untreated, Lupus can be fatal because the antibodies continue to cause damage to the body. We MUST increase awareness and educate the public and healthcare professionals about Lupus so diagnosis can be made as quickly as possible and appropriate treatments can be prescribed!
Please help support the cause by joining my team, “Natural Remedies” and walking on Sunday, September 27, 2009 on City Island in Harrisburg, PA. If you are unable to attend, you can visit my page and donate towards the cause. Please help us find a cure for a disease that strikes more people than leukemia, sickle cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and cystic fibrosis combined! We need your help!!! 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 please do not forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!!!
Thanks again,
Rossalyn VanDerlyke and Natural Remedies Team!!!
PLEASE NOTE: If you plan to join the Natural Remedies Team and walk with us on September 27th, it cost $25 per person, which would be considered as your donation. You can join the team by clicking the "Join This Team" link on the top right of this page.