Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain. Normally the body's immune system makes proteins called antibodies, to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials.
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) estimates between 1.5 - 2 million Americans have a form of lupus, but the actual number may be higher. More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women. Symptoms and diagnosis occur most often when women are in their child-bearing years, between the ages of 15 and 45.
This is a time of great opportunity and great hope for people with lupus. The Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA) is aggressively advocating to the President's Administration, Congress, and to members of the state and local legislatures. The LFA has persistently begun to elevate the issue of lupus on the federal agenda. Members of Congress and of the Administration are finally listening to us. The LFA is your voice on Capitol Hill to ensure you are being heard.
Let me introduce myself now that you have learned about this illness. My name is Maria Johannesen and I am a wife and mother who was diagnosed with Systematic Lupus in 2000. It took many years before being properly diagnosed yet even to this day its a fight with medical insurance companies to cover my medical expenses. Like many other illnesses Americans who have pre-exisiting life long diseases can not get private insurance. To make matters worse, if we are financially making above the poverty level we can not get any medical assistance. With that said, its a sad fact we must rely on our spouses to work many hours to pay for our medical care. My average yearly cost at a Stage 3 is financially burdening at approx. $12, 000.00 a year and thats not including prescription costs. I must say I am lucky to have a wonderful employer that is very understanding and supportive when I have a flare. Though I work full time a Human Resource Director it still is a burden to the point I made the decision not to go for any further medical treatment because of the raising costs. It made me think about how many other people either with Lupus or any other diseases go without due to our country not thinking how important the Americans healthcare system neglects its own. Yet, our country will donate 2 billion dollars for Aids funding in Africa and other third world countries. So I have decided to help the Lupus Foundation of America in the fight of funding for Medical Research and Healthcare Reform.
Please help me change the future of our healthcare for our children, neices, nephews. I may not see the change but if I know the future will be positive for our children. Then having Lupus was worth it. Please sign this petition so I may go to Washington DC and face Congress along with the Lupus Foundation. Thank you for all your support.
