Lupus: Illness Exposed, Awareness Rising

May is Lupus Awareness Month, and througout the month, numerous events are held to raise awareness about this disease, with which more than 1.5 million Americans are said to have been diagnosed and Black women develop almost 3 times more than Whites.

Although with proper care, many with lupus lead full lives, in recent years, I've learned more about the disease than I ever have because I learned that the disease runs in my family.  A close family member had a few issues with her skin, saw a dermatologist, and he asked if she lupus ran in her family.  She told him no, and he asked no further questions.

Then, a year or so later, we lost a cousin. We knew she'd been ill for quite some time, but in her passing we were informed that she died from complications of lupus. She was in her 40's.

Not long after that, I was talking with my dad about the situation, and he said that not only did this cousin (1st cousin on his dad's side) pass from the disease, but he also informed me that one of his 1st cousins on his mom's side has Lupus.  This knowledge amazed me.  Out of 1.5 million people in the US with the disease, two of them are my dad's 1st cousins!

This began my quest of knowledge on the disease. I learned that lupus is described as an overactive immune system. Funny, right? Most people strive to have a healthy immune system. Unfortunately, for some, the immune system can become too active and began to fight against various systems of the body.

With this in mind, I'll be attending the Lupus Awareness Walk tomorrow at Shelby Park, walking in memory of Janet Gibson and for Beverly Finnley, other relatives that are living with the disease, and as an act of faith that it will not continue in my bloodline.