Lupus: Why I Walk

[Guest guest]

April 22, 2011

My journey and struggle with lupus, probably like many of yours, began years

before the actual diagnosis.

Years later, through the continuous, excessive pain, stiffness, headaches, and

fatigue, I was finally diagnosed with lupus. Just as devastating as the

diagnosis, was finding out that there had not been any FDA-approved medications

or treatments for lupus in more than 50 years!

I felt like a victim. I felt helpless. I felt hopeless. But I was determined to

beat this.

Then one afternoon, I picked up the phone and called The Lupus Foundation of

America. I wanted to be proactive. There must be something that can be done.

This is when my real journey began.

When I say my real journey began at this point, I mean this in several ways.

First of all, it led me to the LFA and to the Walk for Lupus Now®. It led me to

an entire world of information and resources that I found so very valuable. It

led me to information about research, and it led me to hope.

For reasons that I may never fully understand, I did not want anybody to know

that I had lupus. But when I decided to do the Walk to help raise money for

lupus research, I just KNEW that I could make a difference. But then it occurred

to me. If I was going to get the necessary sponsorships and donations to raise

money, then, well, I would actually have to tell people that I have lupus. I am

not the type of person who asked for help. But I did it. I asked for help. And

it is the best thing that I could have ever done for myself. I have been blessed

by an enormous amount of support.

I do truly believe that we are close to seeing some major advancements in lupus

treatments. I may or may not see a cure in my lifetime, but I am not giving up

without a fight! I hope you will join me and find a Walk in your community.

Together we can all make a difference, and I am glad that I found my way here,

and I am honored to be a part of the LFA's Walk for Lupus Now.

Visit WalkforLupusNow.org and register today!

Joy Wasserman

New York

Diagnosed at age 38