Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues,

My daughter, Theresa, suffers from abdominal lupus, and I fundraise to find a cure. She was diagnosed many years ago, and her life debilitating symptoms are controlled with monthly infusions and daily medications. There are side effects, however, to all the treatments that keep her alive, and now her heart is impacted. This year Theresa was diagnosed with sinus tachycardia and cardiovascular disease. The bad news is that in addition to lupus, she is also being treated for heart disease. The good news is that she gave up caffeine, alcohol, red meat, sugar, flour, dairy, refined oils and all processed foods. (HERO!) She planted their organic garden and started a regular exercise routine.  Her abdominal lupus symptoms are so much better as a result of her new diet and exercise, and we are very hopeful that the heart disease will be stopped in its tracks.

Theresa would not be alive today without her doctors at Rush Medical Center and the infusion therapy developed through research, so I ask you to please support the Lupus Foundation of America. This year’s walk will be held in Lincoln Park on September 28. Theresa works really hard every single day to help herself. Please show your support by helping her with your donation.

To make a donation go to support.lupus.org. Click on Get Involved in the purple bar, and then click on Walk to End Lupus Now. Select Illinois and then Chicago. Search Teams for T’s Team. Theresa, Meghan and I are fundraising, and you can donate to any of our teams.

Thank you for your help. Research is our only hope. It means a lot to my family and me.

With sincere gratitude,

Carol Brickley