Sad News

I received two emails yesterday. One was from a woman living in my state. She asked if I had any tips for her starting up a new foundation. She said that her sister had died recently of Lupus and she wanted to do something. I suggested that she join one of the foundations already out there, such as ours in order to get the much needed funds for Lupus research. The Foundations to raise money are already here. Yes there are a few that don't raise funds for medical research but there are really good ones now, like ours that do! We just need to donate our time, money and efforts and help them out and get those researchers something to work with.

The second email was from a fellow skydiver on the East Coast. I was excited to hear from her as she said she wanted to make an LFL event at her drop zone over there! The reason she wanted to do this was because her sister-in-law was in the hospital, very sick with Lupus. I remember when I was sick, I was overwhelmed with people that wanted to do something for me. That is how this organization got started. I was very sad to hear that she was going through the battles of lupus with a loved one. I was very touched that she had contacted me and wanted to help us. A lot of people say they want to help, and they do, but very few actually put forth that kind of effort into doing something about it. Organizing a boogie is a big deal of effort!! I thought she must really love her sister-in-law a whole lot!

Today I recieved a crushing email. My East Coast friend's sister-in-law past away last night due to lupus. My heart breaks today. I'm so sad. I feel like I should have tried harder and faster to get fund that would have prevented this. I hear about so many people dying from Lupus all the time and nothing about research, treatments or cures. Just nothing but death and sickness. Millions of people out there suffering daily with this. And no hope yet.

I feel lucky that I'm doing OK these days. My Lupus isn't gone. I'm still sick. I always will be. Just today I woke up and it took me a while to get my hands working. Stiff, sore, achy and so tired I don't even want to breath. But my Lupus is the best it's been in a long, long time and for that I thank my lucky stars. I'm still here today. The pain I feel means I'm still alive. If you were to look at me you probably would't even realize I have Lupus. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with me. I've even had general practice doctors tell me that I "looked fine" and didn't need a Rheumatologist. Then when I go to see the Rheumatologist they take one look at me and say "You are sick!" Yes, I am. My labs say I'm sick. My pain, is something only I feel. You can't see that. Therefore, I look fine. Inside, I have Lupus. It is very ugly. I'm glad you can't see that. I'm glad that I, at least, look fine. I'm sure that my East Coast friend's sister-in-law looked fine as well. But she still died. And for that my heart breaks today and it hurts worse than my physical pain does. How many more people will die before we find something that will help them? How do we make people understand the ugent need for this research?

I just don't know. Do you?

2009 Leap for Lupus Boogie!

The Leap for Lupus boogie is set for August 7th 8th and 9th as Kapowsin Air Sport in Shelton Washington.
We will again attempt to break the North West POP's record. Sign up and registration are on the leapforlupus.org web. Spaces are limited so if you want on this, sign up asap!!

We will have good weather for this event. We will!!

We are looking for sponsors for this event and we'll be starting our raffles soon!

As always, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free. That's what this is here for. ;-)