by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ
There are about five million people worldwide who suffer from Lupus. If you know anyone with this chronic disease you will know how debilitating it is, particularly when it flares up. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes an individual’s immune system to attack its own tissues, cells, and organs. It is not contagious.
I know eight persons who suffer from this painful disease and each one reacts differently to it. It can affect many parts of the body e.g. kidneys, lungs, heart, brain, joints, veins, arteries, blood cells, tendons, hair and skin. Common symptoms include fatigue, fever, red rashes often on the face and arms (called “butterfly rash”), ulcers, joint pain or swelling, and/or muscle pain. Usually, one person doesn’t have all the possible symptoms.
“Lupus symptoms are wide and varied. Lupus may strike aggressively as an acute and severe illness or grumble on undiagnosed for many years. Alternatively, Lupus may appear as a transient disease. Earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment have meant that for the majority of patients a normal life span and lifestyle can be expected” (London Lupus Centre). It can last for years or a lifetime.
There are four main types of lupus: The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (the most common form). It can “affect almost any organ or organ system of the body, from the skin to internal organs like the lungs and kidneys; drug-induced lupus, a condition mimicking the symptoms of lupus, but brought on by certain types of drugs; discoid lupus, a cutaneous (affecting the skin) disease that distinguishes itself from SLE through the severity of rashes; and Neonatal lupus, rare form of temporary lupus affecting a fetus or newborn.” (www.about.com)
Recently 28 year-old Reeanna Harilal, who suffers from Lupus, came to see me. She is in the process of establishing The Voice of Lupus Foundation. My heart went out to this talented young lady who lost her job because of her illness. If you wish to support her Foundation, financially or otherwise, please contact her on: 469-2222 or via e-mail at: thevoiceoflupusfoundation@gmail.com.
The following are extracts from her story entitled: “The Overcomer”. She has given me permission to share it with readers:
“My childhood dream of making it ‘big’ in the media as a journalist was squashed, at least so I believed. I had lost the drive I had for life and the will to fight. Yes I gave up on myself…I became bitter, resentful, angry and most of all I became a different me…The lesson I take with me about that period of my life is knowing that each day I learnt and discovered something new about myself and it kept me growing into a better person. You see life is like a rope, twined in all its complexities and yet weaved into one marvellous stream that you have the chance to learn something amazing from…So grab hold of it.
“Winston Churchill once said: ‘success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.’…The past is a brief reflection, and the future is yet to be realized…Lay to rest resentment and heartaches from the past; they only serve to cripple you from moving forward…I still have my ups and downs, but my strength is renewed and I am comforted daily knowing that God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness. I’ve laid my burdens down at His feet, knowing now who I am in Christ Jesus…I must confess that more than once, I have seen God pick up the pieces of this broken heart and restore back to service my crushed emotions and murky confidence, while I stood in awe at the fact that He did so much with so little… only God himself can heal your mind and body.”
Our Scriptures and the social doctrine of our Church tell us that we must reach out to our brothers and sisters in need: “I was sick and you visited me” (Matthew 25:31-46). Social action at parish level requires Catholics to develop awareness of those who suffer from diseases such as Lupus and form support groups. Websites that give advice about how to start a Lupus support group all highlight the need for a high level of commitment and responsibility on the part of group members.
I have spoken to Curtis Wilson, President of the Lupus Society of T&T about the Society’s work. He can be contacted on: 678-0595. We can also pray for those who suffer from lupus.
