Hello!! My name is Traci Condrey and I am a senior at Western Carolina University.  I am majoring in elementary education and I am so excited about being a future educator.  I created this page because I believe in hope and I believe in miracles.  I want to make a difference in this world and to be more than just a person, but to be an inspirator.  I want to create awareness of a disorder that affects 1 out of 85 people in the United States.  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disorder for which there is currently no cure.  I was diagnosed with Lupus on December 7, 2007, a day which changed my life forever.  There is a lot of research being done to improve the diagnosis and treatment of Lupus, and hopefully one day there will be a cure.  By donating to the Lupus Foundation of America, you are not only giving to a good cause, but you are giving to a life.  So I'm asking you to please help me and help the others that are affected by Lupus.  Be an inspirator too and donate to help us fight the fight against Lupus.

Thank you for all your donations and your continued support. 

Traci Condrey

 

Information about Lupus:  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), is a chronic inflammatory disease that results from your body's immune system attacking your tissues and organs.  It affects many different parts of your body including your joints, kidneys, blood cells, skin, lungs and heart.  It affects more women than men and there are no two cases that are exactly alike.  The signs and symptoms vary from person to person, being mild or severe.  Some of the most common symptoms of Lupus are:  fatigue, joint pain, stiffness and swelling, fever, weight loss or gain, mouth sores, hair loss, butterfly-shaped rash across the bridge of the nose and cheeks, skin lesions, chest pain, shortness of breath, easy bruising, dry eyes, memory loss, anxiety, depression, and Raynaud's Phenomenon, which is when fingers turn white or blue due to stressful situations or when being exposed to coldness.  Lupus affects people of all ages but is mostly diagnosed within the ages of 14-45.  People who have Lupus are very sensitive to sun exposure because the ultraviolent rays from the sun causes skin cells to release certain proteins on the skin causing skin lesions.  It can cause kidney damage, which is one of the leading causes of death in people with Lupus.  If it affects your central nervous system then this can causes seizures, behavior changes, memory loss, headaches, and dizziness.  By affecting your heart, it increases your chances of heart attacks, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.  It has also been known to increase the occurance and risk of cancer, especially Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Women that are diagnosed with Lupus have an increased chance of miscarriage during pregnancy and preterm birth.  Lupus is treated with medicines including anti-malarial drugs, corticosteriods, and anti-inflammatory drugs.  Living with Lupus is not easy, but if you get enough rest, eat healthy, exercise regularly, don't smoke, and stay out of the sun, then life with it can be livable.  In my opinion, the best medicine for Lupus is the help and support from family and friends.