butterflies of hope newsletter
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Newsletter for Lupus Warriors!TRANSCRIPT
ButterfliesButterfliesButterflies Of HOPEOf HOPEOf HOPE
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF LUPUS IN COLOR
OCTOBER 2012 – VOLUME 1
“As a butterfly emerges from its cocoon it gives HOPE to each
caterpillar that strives to earn her wings. HOPE that one day that
butterfly will get her wings and fly!” ~Racquel H. Dozier~
Welcome to
Butterflies of HOPE
Welcome to Butterflies of HOPE Newsletter for the Lupus in Color Foundation. We are happy to communicate through this venue as an addition to online support. Here you will find helpful articles, stories and tips that will teach you more about Lupus and the effects it has on a Lupus Survivor’s life. This newsletter will also serve as a way to place a face to what lupus really is. Lupus is a disease that has been hidden with due to the lack of
Lupus In Color Mission and Goals Lupus In Color has been created to cater to the needs of women and men of all
colors of the rainbow suffering or directly affected with Lupus. The Lupus In
Color Mission is to spread lupus awareness and assist lupus survivors in day to
day living.
Our Motto is: "I Have Lupus, Lupus Does NOT Have Me!" This motto gives us
the strength to move on. It removes the stronghold that this invisible disease
can have on its survivors.
knowledge and the goal is to heighten the awareness of this silent disease. This is a great way to spread awareness and we hope that you will spread the word and send Butterflies of HOPE to others to share the knowledge and awareness. I hope you enjoy the first edition of the Butterflies of HOPE Newsletter. ~Racquel H. Dozier~ Founder/President
Lupus In Color
Events
October 15
Newsletter
Distribution
October 16
Butterflies of Hope
Support Group
Glen Allen, VA
Glen Allen Library
7:00 PM
GL Conference Room
LETTER TO FAMILY AND
FRIENDS (INVISIBLE DISEASES)
I’m not trying to speak for
everyone, but from my
own perspective I can tell
you what I NEED from my
family and friends and so
seldom get.
I NEED TO BE
SHELTERED dropped off
at the curb and told, don't
try to do that, let me help
you.... There is so much
going on in my body that I
have no control over and it
does get overwhelming
and exhausting to my
body.
I NEED TO FEEL
PROTECTED even though
I can't be safe on the
inside at least I can feel if
ANYONE or ANYBODY
wants to "get at me" then
they are going to have to
"GO THROUGH"
I NEED TO FEEL
CHERISHED as if my
family or friends feel they
are blessed for each day
we have together, LIFE IS
SO FRAGILE.
I NEED TO FEEL CARED
FOR when I am feeling
sick everything is hard to
do, even dressing and I
WOKE UP WITH ONLY 2
MILES OF ENERGY INSIDE
OF ME AND A NORMAL
DAY TAKES 25 MILES
WORTH. I need someone
else to say, "let me empty
the dishwasher", or “so
what do you need me to
do?” I FEEL GUILTY when I
can't do the daily
inconsequential details
that are the GLUE
HOLDING THE
HOUSEHOLD INTACT.
I NEED TO FEEL
RESPONSIBLE I know the
latest research, I am on
the internet each day to
learn more, please don't
say B-12 might cure me,
I’ve tried the miracle
cures and read the
articles. DON’T YOU
KNOW how
DISAPPOINTED I GET
WITH MY OWN BODY for
NOT COOPERATING?
I NEED TO FEEL
FORGIVEN for NOT
being a full person (in the
world's view). You may
not hold a grudge, I know
it’s hard on you to pick
up slack, but I don't FEEL
FORGIVEN, I feel guilty.
I NEED TO FEEL LIKE
PART OF A
TEAM working toward a
common goal (our life
together) and it is OK if
my main contribution is
SPIRIT.
I NEED TO FEEL
INCREDIBLE I get angry
sometimes seeing a
tennis mom sachet into
lunch with the girls after
a manicure. I WISH I had
the energy to even have
a manicure, let alone
waste precious energy on
such frivolous pursuits as
gossip over lunch and
judging other women's
clothes and homes and
accomplishments.
I NEED TO FEEL
AFFIRMED So many
people scoff when I can't
"Do just this one little
activity, and it IS
EXPECTED." I get tired of
feeling guilty for not
BEING ENOUGH to people
that I don't care about in
the first place. When I
rant over the injustice of
my illness, don't try to
talk me out of it, or
encourage me, ust say "I
KNOW, IT ISN'T FAIR,
YOU DON'T DESERVE
THIS"
I NEED A FRIEND who
is there for me on the
good days and there for
me on the bad days, too.
I get left out of a lot,
because I go for periods
of time when I am unable
to do much, they think I
probably can't
participate, so they forget
about me, or just don't
even invite me. It is
LONELY being ill over a
long term.
I NEED TO BE
ENCOURAGED The
thought of being sick like
this for the rest of my life
INDUCES WAVES OF
PANIC. It sometimes
seems like a life not
worth living, the quality is
so poor so much of the
time. I’m a Christian, I
have great faith, but it
can be overwhelming,
especially when it’s
implied "if your faith were
greater, or if you would
just DECIDE not to be
sick....." We HAVE ALL
TRIED THAT - it doesn't
work.
I NEED TO BE PRAYED
FOR Frankly sometimes
in the middle of the night
when everyone is
sleeping soundly and
there are only the creaks
of the house for
company....I'm SCARED,
REALLY SCARED. I
wonder who will
remember me when I’m
gone and if I’m making
any sort of impact on the
world at all to validate
my life. REALITY looms
large and feels ominous.
It seems like I’m
PURSUED NIGHT AND
DAY BY A STEALTHY UNSEEN
STALKER, who knows my
every move. It would feel
wonderful to really believe I
am actively prayed for.
I NEED TO BE
ANTICIPATED if I am sick in
bed, know that I am dying
inside, because I am
neglecting things that need to
be done, and the PRESSURE
AND STRESS TO GET WELL is
VERY GREAT because I know
when I do get out of bed
THERE WILL BE EVEN MORE
RESPONSIBILITY WAITING
FOR ME than BEFORE I wore
myself down into a state of
exhaustion and bedrest. Just
come on over and SILENTLY
DO SOMETHING/ ANYTHING,
and don't even expect
gratitude, I may not even
realize, but when I get up a
lighter load will be blessed.
I NEED TO BE NURTURED I
just got an email requesting a
group of us to get a nice meal
up for someone, because she
is down with the flu, poor
husband for taking care of
her! I LIVE WITH THE FLU
EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE! The
LETTER TO FAMILY AND
FRIENDS (INVISIBLE DISEASES)
last time a a meal was
brought to us, was a year
ago, after I had been
extremely sick for 6
weeks. Before that it was
years. No one even
THINKS of reaching out to
a chronically ill person,
because they might be
EXPECTED to do it
monthly or because they
are so used to you being
sick, they don't even
realize sick MEANS SICK.
Our families suffer too,
and would like a warm
meal, as much as the lady
who just had a baby or
the woman with toe
surgery.
I NEED TO BE
APPLAUDED give me
CREDIT for being a
SURVIVOR AND A
THRIVER. TO KNOW that
there are women out
there who have never had
more than a broken
acrylic nail and an
unreliable housekeeper, is
infuriating sometimes,
especially when it’s
implied they must be
better than me or I
wouldn't be sick all the
time and unorganized and
uninvolved. I know we
don't know what people's
lives are like behind
closed doors, but I would
love, have prayed, to
JUST BE SHALLOW FOR A
DAY and take every STEP,
BREATH AND ACTIVITY
FOR GRANTED without
deciding WHICH few
things I could do today
that will make a
difference over the next
30 years (it is almost
always be a good mom
and wife).
I NEED TO BE
RESPECTED I am
intelligent, I am
attractive, I was once
beautiful.... It is
depressing to swell into a
stranger because of meds
and to have no clothes
that fit attractively. I'm
too tired to shop for
them, and if I did shop
for new clothes, I
wouldn't have energy to
wear them anywhere
anyway. I CAN DO
THINGS, I just can't
prove it very often. I AM
SOMEBODY not a
disease, but the disease
overshadows my chance
TO BE MYSELF.
I NEED TO FEEL
NORMAL Sometimes it
feels like a BOLT OF
REALITY HITS ME, as if I
JUST REALIZED I am not
a healthy person for the
very first time. It doesn't
seem real or possible for
a minute, almost
shocking. I can't do
everything, but
sometimes it would be
fun to just play with no
worries. HELP ME ESCAPE
for a few hours to a play
or comedy club,
somewhere different
where no one knows and
I can forget.
I NEED MY
DIGNITY It’s important
for me, with so little
control over anything else
in my life, to at least
have my dignity. Please
DON'T SPECULATE
ABOUT ME with other
family members or
friends and compare
notes about my progress
or lack of progress or
determination or
mindset, or your opinion
of what I could, should or
ought to be doing
differently. It is easy to
be smug when you aren't
wearing lead ankle
weights each day and
trying to walk through
neck deep water, this is
what it really feels like.
Everything is ten times
harder for me than it is
for you.
I NEED TO FEEL
ACCEPTED AND
INCLUDED not like a
project to be
SCRUTINIZED for
worthiness and validity.
I’m not going to doctor
after doctor and
struggling to survive for
ATTENTION. Believe me,
if I wanted attention, I’m
bright and capable
enough to get it in other
ways. I’d rather be
noticed for my good
qualities and
accomplishments. Even if
I were getting attention,
which I’m not, it certainly
isn’t worth all this
seclusion and suffering.
REALLY who WANTS to
have medical tests run
and spend travel money
on medication?
Not every day is like this,
there are good days, and
that is what makes the
bad days even more
depressing sometimes,
because you realize what
you are missing.
DON’T TALK, JUST DO.
Actions speak louder than
words. You have the
freedom to buy a plane
ticket and go anywhere in
the world and enjoy it.
You can take a job, or
join a club, or garden or
take a hike or run in to a
new shop
or.............anything you
decide to do on a whim. I
have to think and plan
and strategize. I am
afraid to make plans
because I really don't
know if I will be able to
follow through on them.
Even planning takes
energy, which may not
leave enough energy for
the actual doing. YOU
PLAN SOMETHING and
pull me along, with no
responsibilities and NO
GUILT if I can only do
half of the plan...at least
we will have done
something.
I don't like having lupus
but I have learned that I can't ask why me. I
just have to do what God has led me to do with it. I am thankful
that I am given the op-portunity to talk to peo-
ple all over the world about it. To help some-one through their
struggle, to be able to give someone else a
glimmer of hope in their day.
What a hidden blessing it has been and contin-
ues to be as it creates a better me for a greater
good! I have lupus, lupus
does NOT have ME!
~Racquel H. Dozier~
10 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Lupus
What are the possible
side effects of my lupus drugs?
How long will I need
to take these lupus
drugs?
Is it safe for me to
become pregnant if I have lupus? Are my lupus medications safe to take while I’m pregnant?
How often should I
have checkups?
What lifestyle
changes do you
recommend?
DID YOU KNOW?
Ninety percent of the
people who develop
lupus are female. Males
also can develop lupus
and their disease can
be more severe in
some organs.
10% of people with lupus are men. Lupus is often re-
ferred to as a “women’s health issue” because 9 out
of 10 people with lupus are women; however men get
lupus too.
Yes,
Men Can Have Lupus!
It is a mistake to think of
lupus as exclusively a
women's health concern.
Men with lupus face a
unique challenge. It may
be difficult for them to
discuss a disease that so
many people think occurs
only in women. Because
there are fewer men with
systemic lupus, they may
have trouble meeting
other men with the
disease. This may prevent
them from gaining the
benefits of mutual
support. While many of
our female patients are
interested in meeting any
other people with lupus,
virtually most of the male
patients ask about other
men with whom they can
speak.
Join Lupus In Color for an intimate
group of supportive people sharing
their experiences with Lupus.
Real help from real people who
know exactly how you feel!
New To Lupus In Color
Men typically have to
deal with living up to the
expectations of being a
physically strong and
c a p a b l e p r o v i d e r .
Because lupus can cause
such exhaustion and
other physical problems—
many of which can’t
always be seen by
others—people may
unfairly call men with
lupus weak or lazy. Not
being able to work full-
time because of illness
can be especially hard.
Although most lupus
symptoms are similar in
both men and women,
and also despite the fact
that lupus affects more
women than men, the
disease seems to behave
more aggressively in
men.
Could any medication
I'm taking be
triggering or
aggravating my lupus
symptoms?
Could another
condition be causing my lupus symptoms?
Has the disease
already damaged my kidneys or other
organs?
Should I have a bone
density test?
Should I be taking
calcium or other supplements?
Men with Lupus
EACH LUPUS SURVIVOR REPRESENTS HOPE COURAGE STRENGTH AND FAITH. THERE IS NO ONE LOOK OF LUPUS. SEE THE MANY FACES OF LUPUS AND KNOW THAT A LUPUS WARRIOR CAN BE ANYONE
YOU KNOW NO MATTER HOW THEY LOOK!
The Many Faces of Lupus
RACQUEL LUPUS WARRIOR
9 YEARS
TRINITY LUPUS WARRIOR
25 YEARS
SAMANTHA LUPUS WARRIOR
10 YEARS
JENNIFER LUPUS WARRIOR
3 YEARS
JILL LUPUS WARRIOR
16 YEARS
MEGGY LUPUS WARRIOR
4 YEARS
BOBBIE LUPUS WARRIOR
6 YEARS
RACHEL LUPUS WARRIOR
8 YEARS
DEBORAH LUPUS WARRIOR
7 YEARS
KASSONAH LUPUS WARRIOR
2 YEARS
STACI LUPUS WARRIOR
12 YEARS
ROBERTA LUPUS WARRIOR
17 YEARS
JAMES LUPUS WARRIOR
8 YEARS
JANIE LUPUS WARRIOR
LINDA LUPUS WARRIOR
9 YEARS
The Many Faces of Lupus
CHARLENE LUPUS WARRIOR
4 YEARS
ELSIE LUPUS WARRIOR
6 YEARS
SHIRLEY LUPUS WARRIOR
2 YEARS
NICOLE LUPUS WARRIOR
27 YEARS
CALLIE LUPUS WARRIOR
1 YEAR
ANTAWANA LUPUS WARRIOR
8 YEARS
AMANDA LUPUS WARRIOR
14 YEARS
DAVID LUPUS WARRIOR
9 YEARS
WENDY LUPUS WARRIOR
1 YEAR
MONIQUE LUPUS WARRIOR
12 YEARS
THERESA LUPUS WARRIOR
5 YEARS
ROBIN LUPUS WARRIOR
13 YEARS
JENNY LUPUS WARRIOR
7 YEARS
TOTONYA LUPUS WARRIOR
17 YEARS
VERONICA LUPUS WARRIOR
7 YEARS
EACH LUPUS SURVIVOR REPRESENTS HOPE COURAGE STRENGTH AND FAITH. THERE IS NO ONE LOOK OF LUPUS. SEE THE MANY FACES OF LUPUS AND KNOW THAT A LUPUS WARRIOR CAN BE ANYONE
YOU KNOW NO MATTER HOW THEY LOOK!
The Many Faces of Lupus
ELLA LUPUS WARRIOR
12 YEARS
TANNISHA LUPUS WARRIOR
3 MONTHS
TINA LUPUS WARRIOR
9 YEARS
TERRY LUPUS WARRIOR
14 YEARS
MAYA LUPUS WARRIOR
9 YEARS
EVELYN LUPUS WARRIOR
1 YEAR
ALMA LUPUS WARRIOR
SINCE BIRTH
SHANNAN LUPUS WARRIOR
2 YEARS
MANDY LUPUS WARRIOR
13 YEARS
LEAH LUPUS WARRIOR
10 MONTHS
CHRISTY LUPUS WARRIOR
13 YEARS
WANDA LUPUS WARRIOR
23 YEARS
MICHELLE LUPUS WARRIOR
1YEAR
KIMBERLY LUPUS WARRIOR
6YEARS
ANNETTA LUPUS WARRIOR
EACH LUPUS SURVIVOR REPRESENTS HOPE COURAGE STRENGTH AND FAITH. THERE IS NO ONE LOOK OF LUPUS. SEE THE MANY FACES OF LUPUS AND KNOW THAT A LUPUS WARRIOR CAN BE ANYONE
YOU KNOW NO MATTER HOW THEY LOOK!
BUTTERFLY SPOTLIGHT
Kassonah Smallwood
Kassonah was diagnosed with a mix connective tissue Lupus
(Scl) and myositis on July 4,2010.
Before being diagnosed Kassonah was constantly sick and
the doctors that she visited with told her she was crazy and
fat. It took three years before a firm diagnosis was given.
During that waiting time, Kassonah states that her mother
has been a very strong force in her life during diagnosis and
as she deals with having lupus. She is so grateful for her
mother everyday.
Kassonah Speaks
“I really don't have friends but everybody says that I was
their friend but they never came to see me. Sometimes I
feel like lupus has taken over my life. Sometimes, I want to
cry because nobody seems to know how I feel. To be told
you don't look sick or you’re lying or I don't care if you sick,
makes it hard to deal with the illness.“
Due to lupus, at the age of 28 Kassonah has a pacemaker
and is on oxygen 24 hours a day. Since diagnosis she was
also stricken with sleep aepnea and it makes it hard for her
to relax.
What Kassonah wants people to know….
“I will like people to know that I know I don't look sick but I
am! Sometimes it’s hard to get out of bed and I did not ask
for this disease. If you read about lupus you will under-
stand it more. I want people to know that lupus survivors
are not all the same. I can't work right now but I know oth-
er women with lupus who can work. Since a lot of people
don’t know about lupus I would like them to just ask a sur-
vivor about it. Don’t just say oh of you take your medicine
you will be ok, because it’s not ok to hurt and sometimes
the medicine will not help the pain go away. We need help
to find a cure for this illness!”
“Sometimes I want to give up because I hurt so bad, but I continue to fight
because I will not let lupus win and take me from my family.”
~Kassonah Smallwood~
The Importance of Support
When one is faced with an
illness like lupus, having a
support system to lean on is
as important as having physi-
cians, medications and treat-
ments to rely on. Lupus is not
only physically draining, it's
emotionally draining. It's dif-
ficult enough to have to ex-
perience the fatigue, rashes,
pain, and other assorted
symptoms of it, but when you
have to constantly explain
lupus to people ("Yes, it's a
'real' disease." "No, there's
no cure." "Yes, you can die
from it." "No, I'm not 'all bet-
ter' yet!"), it can be severely
draining to your spirit.
This is where the importance
of a support system lies. A
lupus patient needs to have
at least one person who is
unquestionably "there" for
him or her, 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, for whatever
reason. When you're faced
with a disease that lulls you
into a false sense of security
("I haven't had a flare in a
year!") only to slam you, lit-
erally overnight, with symp-
toms so bad that you can't
get out of bed, and the touch
of sheets on your body drives
you tears, you never know
when you'll need that uncon-
ditional support!
Humans are basically social
creatures. We reach out to
one another in good times, to
share our joys and hopes,
and in bad times, to get sup-
port and help. The fact that
you are reading this article is
indicative of a desire to learn
more, to reach out to others,
to share, and perhaps to
help.
The majority of lupus pa-
tients are young and female.
For most of us, being female
predisposes us to being the
"supporters", not the
"supportees". We just don't
tend to seek out the kind of
help that we need because
we either think that we're
strong enough to handle it, or
we don't want to "bother"
anyone. Being young can
predispose others to think
that we don't need help be-
cause the common thought is
"Young=Strong" and support
is something only older peo-
ple need. Both of these
myths can hinder and hurt a
lupus patient's health.
Additionally, being young
causes most of our closest
support systems to be our
families--Our parents and
husbands, and in some cas-
es, our children. It can be
extremely difficult to get the
ones we love so much to un-
derstand how we're feeling.
Parents of lupus patients fre-
quently go into denial about
their children's illness. It's
difficult for them to accept
the fact that their once lively
and energetic child has such
a draining disease. Addition-
ally, when the question "Is
lupus genetic?" comes up,
parents may feel an unwar-
ranted sense of guilt if they
or someone else in their fam-
ily has lupus, or symptoms of
lupus. However, parents are
usually the first ones that are
there for their child in need,
no matter how they may be
dealing with their own feel-
ings. There really is nothing
like a parent's unconditional
love for a child, and the lupus
patient should realize that
parents can be a wonderful
fount of love and support!
Husbands and boyfriends (I
include "wives and girl-
friends" with these terms--
It's just that the majority of
lupus patients are female--
by Karyn Moran Holton
Apologies to the males read-
ing this!) of lupus patients
can also have a difficult time
with understanding lupus and
its effects on the person they
care about. Day-to-day sup-
port is essential to the lupus
patient, due to the unpredict-
able nature of the wolf. It can
incapacitate the sufferer liter-
ally overnight, with little or no
warning. The spouse or signif-
icant other also has to deal
with feelings of guilt some-
times: "Is she having a flare
because we went out too late
last week?" "Is she sick be-
cause I don't do enough of
the housework?" "Is the lupus
affecting the way I see her?"
These can be tough issues to
deal with!
The major thing to remember
when dealing with relation-
ships with significant others is
communication. It's fine to
feel any emotion--It's how we
deal with those emotions, and
how they are perceived by
our loved ones that makes a
difference. For example, if a
lupus patient is weaning off a
round of steroids, it can make
her tired, irritable, and sub-
ject to bouts of pain. These
things can (understandably!)
cause her to withdraw into
herself, without much time or
energy to devote to her sig-
nificant other. Without com-
munication, he may feel that
she is ignoring him, or that
his efforts to make her feel
better are unappreciated
which can, in turn, make him
withdraw from her. This ugly
cycle can only be broken with
much love, patience, and
most of all communication!
Children can be a wonderful
source of support for the lu-
pus patient. They don't even
have to be yours! If you don't
have children of your own, or
friends or relatives with young
children, I recommend volun-
teering at your local library or
elementary school, even if it's
just to read to children once a
month. Children have an in-
exhaustible supply of energy,
good nature, and joie de vivre
that can lift one's spirit, and
refresh one's soul! Spending
some time with children can
be an enlightening, and heal-
ing experience!
Of course, no article on sup-
port would be complete with-
out mentioning the hundreds
of profess ional, semi-
professional, and just-plain-
folks support groups available
to lupus patient today. The
LFA has many local chapters
available to patients, and
families, and there are many
mailing lists, and other online
support groups that can be
accessed by lupus patients
who are unable to leave their
homes to attend meetings.
There is no one who can un-
derstand lupus suffering like
someone who's been there!
Additionally, venting one's
problems to someone who is
likely to need your supportive
shoulder in the future, can
assuage any feelings of "I
don't want to bother anyone
with this" syndrome! Take
advantage of these programs
if you can. The simple feeling
of realizing that you're not
alone can be overwhelmingly
supportive, and by helping
others in their struggle with
the wolf, we often find that
we are really helping our-
selves.
The Importance of Support
BUTTERFLY WRITERS
SPOTLIGHT
Valerie Callahan To My Loving Sister
by Valerie Callahan
My sister was born into a courageous family My mother bore many sorrows strongly
I see my mother’s strong spirit in my loving sister Who has Lupus , but continues to live out her wishes
I know my sister’s Lupus flairs make for a challenging life I always know that her body will be facing strife
It affects different parts of her body daily But, she keeps on going, fighting life fiercely
Knowing what she’s going through is difficult everyday I know I can only encourage , feeling helplessly inane
I laugh as she walks courageously forward, you see
Saying ,”I have Lupus and Lupus doesn’t have me” So glad she keeps up the long unending fight
Living life to the fullest, not turning back frightened Keep going my sister, my heart is with you in this
I love your spirit, I find nothing there remiss You share your heart and soul so endlessly
Lupus is there, but it’s going to have to flee.
Lovingly,
Your Sister Valerie Callahan
Valerie Callahan is a published author and the sister of the
founder of Lupus in Color. She is a great support of Lupus
Awareness and works hard to spread that awareness and
encouragement through her writings.
Interested in seeing her work?
TOWARD THE OTHER SIDE
http://www.amazon.com/Toward-The-Other-Side-ebook/
dp/B008W2HM7C
Lupus In Color Important Links
Lupus Screening Quiz
http://arthritis.about.com/od/lupusthebasics/l/bllupusquiz.htm
Test your lupus knowledge
http://arthritis.about.com/library/quiz/blquizlupusknow.htm
Lupus Foundation of America
http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html
Lupus Research Institute
http://www.lupusresearchinstitute.org/
Lupus Now Magazine
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/
new_magazinehome.aspx
Lupus In Color Blog
http://www.lupusincolor.blogspot.com/
Lupus In Color
http://www.lupusincolor.com
Lupus In Color Store
http://astore.amazon.com/luinco-20
Lupus tutorial
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/lupus/htm/
_no_50_no_0.htm
Spread The Word!
Lupus In Color has been created to cater to the needs of women of all colors of the rain-
bow suffering or directly affected with Lupus.
The research, information and/or answers provided in this newsletter are not meant to be
used as a substitute for Professional Medical advice. Information is gathered from several
sources via the internet and print and may differ from your physician's advice. The infor-
mation provided and presented is for educational purposes and to support survivors and
supporters in the quest to learn more about a most silent disease. Being a lupus survivor
can be a lonely and misunderstood disease and we want to help those affected to lessen
those feelings.
We are here to help you in any way that we can as well as offer each survivor as much
support as we can for as long as they may need it.
We ask that you visit with your personal physician for professional evaluation of your indi-
vidual cases!
The Lupus In Color goal is to provide education and support as well as an outlet when your
emotions have gotten the best of you.
SPREAD THE AWARENES BY FORWARDING OUR NEWSLETTER TO OTHERS!
http://www.lupusincolor.com | http://lupusincolor.blogspot.com