Rock your purple for a cause!

May is Lupus Awareness month.

So many people are affected by this disease yet not many people know about it. I have a few family members and friends that live with this auto immune disease and I am encouraged by them everyday. I had the privileged of joining my friend on the annual Lupus walk in Tampa this past Sunday,the event raised over $100,000 dollars(what an accomplishment)

Do you have questions about what Lupus is? Lupus.org is a great resource to find out where a walk is around you, donate to help further research, and to learn more about Lupus. Below are some facts*

Women of color are two to three times more likely to develop lupus than Caucasians

Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.

In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.