What was once a disease that I only knew somewhat about because of the havoc it wreaked on one of my closest friend’s friend, has now become a cause that I am not only a huge advocate for but a disease that I understand and have. I don’t believe in any way that my Lupus is my ultimate destiny, but now looking back on my experience since being diagnosed it has changed my perspective of what it means to live, be healthy, and be happy. In no way does having Lupus have to be a death sentence, and now with the increased research and progress that has been made in treatment for lupus and other auto-immune diseases the diagnosis is not quite as dismal as it was 20 or even 10 years ago. But it still can be a harrowing experience that can affect almost any and every system of the body and can sometimes lead to death.
We recently learned, via her reality show, that what Toni Braxton thought was heart disease for the past 10 years was actually Lupus that targeted her cardiac system. We were all shocked and prayed for the best for Nick Canon in what seemed like an overnight attack of Lupus Nephritis that almost left him dead from kidney failure. Lady Gaga speaks frequently about her aunt who died at the age of nineteen from complications caused by Lupus. And of course for all of the fans of the CBS show House, there is a constant reference for possible patients diagnoses being Lupus, with the now famous quote, Is it Lupus? And most recently, last month Governor Andrew Cuomo declared May, Lupus Awareness Month in the state of New York.
Lupus affects over 1.5 million people in the United States and over 5 million people world-wide. Every year thousands of people are newly diagnosed with Lupus and so many more are wrongly diagnosed. It is a disease that mostly affects women, about 90% of the people affected by Lupus are women and it is more common in minority women than white women. I feel like ever since I started to work on the Young Leadership Board of the SLE Lupus Foundation of New York everyone that I come into contact with regardless of where I am knows someone, whether a friend, family member, love interest, who has been diagnosed with Lupus. I feel like it is all around me and that fact continues to validate why this cause is an important one and one that continues to warrant more attention and research for a cure. Because the progress with research in Lupus could mean advancements in other auto-immune diseases such as: Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Cancer just to name a few.
So with today being World Lupus Day, I ask you all to take this time to reflect on what you could do to help the cause. I know that there are so many other causes out there but there is a high likelihood that you know someone who has been affected by this disease. What you could do to help no matter how big or small would make a considerable difference. I am also going to take this opportunity to promote an opportunity where you can contribute to Lupus and have a great time. The New York S.L.E Lupus Foundation’s Young Leadership Board is hosting the Wear White for the Fight party at Tenjune on June 13th, and we would love to have you all there for the open bar, free food, and raffle giveaways.
Regardless of what you do I invite you to learn more about Lupus and make the decision for yourself to be an advocate. Also don’t forget to login to Fashion With A Conscience under the Skin Struggles segment to read about my own personal journey with Lupus along with everything else the site has to offer about beauty, fashion, and philanthropy.
Many blessings
Nono
“Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”