Article:Woman seeks others fighting rare illness [sarcoidosis]

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Woman seeks others fighting rare illness By Jutta Biggerstaff / Hi-Desert Star Friday, February 16, 2007 10:08 PM PST YUCCA

VALLEY — A local woman suffering from a rare inflammatory illness is

asking for the public's support in raising money for research into the

disease, which can leave its victims debilitated.

McKittrick, 33, of Yucca Valley, is afflicted with sarcoidosis, a

disease that has affected her lungs, lymph nodes, stomach and heart.

She was diagnosed in January 2006 after many years of tests and

procedures.McKittrick recently organized a Southern California

chapter of the National Sarcoidosis Society and is seeking help for

victims like herself."My goal is to reach out and educate

others who not only suffer from this disease but also those who care

for someone with sarcoidosis," she said. "My hope is to reach others

not only in California but throughout the West Coast."The cause

of the disease is unknown and, according to a report from the National

Sarcoidosis Networking Society, it affects anywhere from 10 to 35 per

100,000 people."The most common presentation of the disease is

lung problems, which can range from mild symptoms, such as chronic

cough, to life-threatening, irreversible fibrosis, or stiffening of the

lungs," the report stated. Sarcoidosis

has enlarged the right side of McKittrick's heart, and she also suffers

from chronic cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and tightness in her

chest. Because of the disease she lost her job and her life insurance

quadrupled. As a mother of a 7-year-old son, McKittrick worries about

the future."My biggest fear is that I won't get to watch him grow up," she said.McKittrick

decided early this year to "quit feeling sorry for myself," and to help

others with the disease who may be suffering alone. So she's attempting

to get the word out by contacting community organizations.McKittrick

will be speaking at the Yucca Valley Rotary Club meeting March 2 and at

the Reach Out Morongo Basin Brown Bag Luncheon April 19. In

a further effort to garner support and awareness for sarcoidosis,

McKittrick has organized the first Sarcoidosis Walk-A-Thon for

Awareness to be conducted 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 21 on the Yucca Valley

High School track. She hopes the walk will become an annual event.Registration

will begin at 8 a.m., the ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at

8:45 along with introduction of special guests and the walk will kick

off at 9 a.m.The registration fee prior to the event will be $15 and the fee at the door will be $25. All donations are tax-deductible.Teams

and individuals are encouraged to participate, and McKittrick also

welcomes other local groups to participate in this event.For information, contact McKittrick at 365-2534 or socalsarcoids@... or call the national hotline at .**********To my knowledge nothing like this has ever been done for EN.