Exploratory Essay

Dealing Lupus: Fighting an Autoimmune Disease

          For about 2-3 years now, I have had to watch my mother suffer through some of the terrible symptoms of Lupus. I have had to watch her have a rash that made her cry because she was in so much pain from just simply moving her arm. She has a Lupus flair almost every six months, I have to watch her suffer. I sat there knowing that there was nothing I could do. Her body is so weak that she is not even supposed to be out in direct sunlight. Our family cannot even go to the beach or park when she is going through a flair. Lupus has made my mother so weak that even when she is not going through a flair she cannot be in direct sunlight. Not being able to be outside in the sun is especially hard for my mother because we live about a mile or two from the beach. Watching my mother go through these flairs is hard enough; I cannot even start to imagine what she does go through.

          When my mother first found out she had Lupus, none of the people in our household had ever even heard of it. After a little bit of research, by my older sister and I, we discovered that Lupus is actually a well-known disease. My mother was also told that it could take up to ten years to be diagnosed with Lupus, so my mother could have had lupus for 7-8 years before she found out. After I found this out, I decided to go a little further with my research and find out more about Lupus. In my research, I found that African American women are more likely to get or have Lupus. What causes Lupus is still unknown to doctors.

          I would like to research Lupus more because I want to find out more about the autoimmune disease my mother has and has to suffer with. I want to research some more of the cures and medications that will help to get rid of the symptoms or lessen them. I can imagine no one enjoys seeing their mother suffer. I know it kills me to see her go through that pain. I want to find out how any cures for this disease can be shown to the public so people who have lupus can start a treatment to cure their pain and suffering all together. No one wants to suffer with body weakness, severe rashes, and not even being able to go outside and be in the sun. Not being able to be in direct sun light is hard, especially if you live less than two miles from the beach.