Hello All! I'm making this challenge because this whole month of May is
Lupus Awareness Month! even though May is Lupus awareness month this challenge is open without a date.
When I tell people my mom has lupus they usually give me a blank and ask 'what's that'
I'm not doing this for pity or sympathy I just want to get the message across, Lupus is real and people need to be aware of it
Now for explanations:
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system. Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.
Lupus is also a disease of flares and remissions. Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.
Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone.
Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, as described above.
Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In HIV or AIDS the immune system is underactive; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.
Our research estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus. The actual number may be higher; however, there have been no large-scale studies to show the actual number of people in the U.S. living with lupus.
It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus.
Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age (15-44). However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too.
Women of color are 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus.
People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus.
More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the country.
Related Information
Now for the challenge:
The color for lupus is purple and the symbol is a butterfly
I challenge you to write/draw anything that has to do with the color purple or a butterfly.You can write a story where a person deals with the disease and how they aspire or whatever you'd like to do. I'd just really like it if people where to become more aware. Most people with lupus end up suffering from depression and it's hard because most of the time we look fine but it's inside the body so if you could write a happy story. Something, funny fluffy, crazy or even weird just have fun.
Here's a banner for if you do the challenge
If you would like to learn more about Lupus, you can go to any of the sites listed below-
Lupus Foundation of America
Cure4Lupus