I am joining thousands of people across the country for the Walk to End Lupus Now®. I hope that you will join me either by lacing up your sneakers or by donating to my fundraising page.

Many of you are aware how healthy I aim to be and stay.  A lot of that has to do with being diagnosed with Lupus in 2018.  Initially thinking it was just a thyroid condition, doctor's eventually realized the thyroid malfunction was a symptom of something larger.  Lupus has caused my thyroid to permanently stay in slug mode, handing me Hashimoto's. The more I stay fit, healthy, and active, the less debilitating the symptoms and flares that come with lupus tend to be.  I have been blessed with an amazing group of family and friends who know and understand the daily struggles I face and do everything they can to support me to live as much as I can.  Hair thinning/loss, chronic fatigue, joint aches, early onset arthritis, sun sensitivity (which sometimes feels like a downright allergy) are my most common markers.  The medicine that I am on to calm my immune system has been shown with long term use to cause ocular degeneration, so I get to go to many more doctor's appointments than I would like.  It's, well, just a lot.  Being handed this lot in life and knowing there isn't a cure feels overwhelming.  But let's take a step forward and not just wallow.  I want to do everything that I can to ensure more research can be done on this autoimmune disorder and that there are measurable solutions for the future.

You can make a difference by donating to help me reach my personal fundraising goal and support the Foundation's efforts to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus! A generous contribution of $25 or $55 can make a definite impact. What’s more, if your employer offers a Matching Gift Program to employees, you may be able to double your contribution with just a little bit of paperwork. Trust me, it’s worth the effort! Every single dollar counts.Did you know?Lupus is a mysterious and misunderstood autoimmune disease. It strikes without warning, affects each person differently, and has no known causes or cure.Lupus symptoms can be severe and highly unpredictable and can damage any organ or tissue, from the skin or joints to the heart or kidneys.While lupus can strike anyone at any time, 90% of people living with lupus are women. Women of color are at especially high risk.Lupus is hard to diagnose, but the Lupus Foundation of America is working to make life easier and more comfortable for the estimated 1.5 million people living with lupus in the United States.  Together, we can solve the cruel mystery of lupus. Thank you for your generosity!