Every person has a cause that is special for them or has touched their life in a way that changes it forever. This blog post is dedicated to the disease that has changed mine.

Before my mother was diagnosed I never knew what lupus was. Before my sister died I never knew that it would change my life.

Lupus erythematosus is a collection of autoimmune diseases wherein which the immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissues. It has many manifestations and may affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs. Little else is known about this disease and it is often misdiagnosed as other things.

My mother was diagnosed when I began high school. For years I watched her transform, physically and mentally. Many diseases impact not only the person afflicted but the entire family as well. My mother though with monitored medical care has been able to live with the disease. My sister on the other hand wasn’t as fortunate.

Diagnosed while in university she fell seriously ill initially. After six years of hospital admissions, probing various medications and fighting to survive, my sister passed away at the age of 28. While initially I was grief stricken and shocked at how a life could be taken away at such a young age, I instantly gained a new outlook. Because of her death I vowed to live.

I often have discussions with people about lupus, many of whom still aren’t even aware of the disease. I have trained myself to explain it in simple terms and inform people about it.

Sadly though there is still little funding for researching the disease and relatively little is known about it. This is my cause. I don’t hesitate to tell people about the disease and how it has affected my family. I want everyone to know about it so that they can protect themselves and create awareness.

Contributing to this charity and others will determine the future of our societies. Giving to worthy causes, whether highly publicized or relatively unknown, is money or time well spent. On Mycharitymap you can find the charity that resonates with you and your cause the most. You can connect to that charity to donate or find out what projects they are working on and how you can be a part of them. Find your cause today and leave your mark on the map.

Visit the lupus foundation Mycharitymap page or the lupus website for more information.