Hello, I was diagnosed with Lupus in 1995 but I struggled with understanding, isolation and lack of information until Jamesetta Smith and the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas embraced me and helped me navigate the myriad of obstacles one faces with a chronic illness. I will forever be grateful for the support and guidance I received from them. Sharon Greene, Little Rock Arkansas.
My daughter Raushana Kamilya Porter was diagnosed with Lupus in 2007. I was affilliated with the Lupus Foundation before Raushana was diagnosed. I contributed by volunteering on various programs, a car donation and public relation poetry writing tasks. The Lupus foundation has been supportive through out this season. My daughter was a vibrant, beautiful young woman who loved life. I had to stand by and watch Lupus suck the very life out of her for ten years. She unfortunately passed on March 16, 2017 her new birth day into eternal life, fifteen days before her 37th birthday. She was to be wed on her natural birthday March 31, 2017 to Lee J Matlock. Lupus is a cruel and relentless disease. My daughter never went into remission. She spent most of her last ten years hospitalized or either very ill. The most sad part about it is she was not the only victim. She had an eleven year old disable daughter she left behind and a twenty year old son who also watched their fighting mother go out with dignity. Raushana Kamilya Porter fought the good fight and the battle is won on the other side where she recieved her healing. Let us find a cure now that families will not have face the tradgedy of watching thier loved one pass slowly before thier very eyes. Minister Gloria Price, Willie, Cailen and DJ and Lee are asking that you donate put LOVE INTO ACTION help find a cure.
The Lupus Foundation Of Arkansas is an organization dedicated to helping solve the questions and problems of Lupus. Not only is the organization dedicated, but each member is, in some way, directly or indirectly affected by the problems of Lupus. The members of the board are so dedicated that they devote unreported hours, each in the hundreds, to help spread the knowledge and awareness to the general public, as well as providing comfort and assistance to those with Lupus, and their families. While I and my family have been blessed with not being affected with the disease, I was so impressed with this organization's dedication that I volunteered to assist in as many ways as I possibly could.
Each year, the organization holds several events to assist in raising funds to further the cause of awareness and cure of Lupus. Over the past several years the word has been spread, and the attendance at these events has grown.
It is an honor to serve for this organization.
Michael
I am a lupus patient who is not supposed to be here. I believe the Lord spared my life to do this ministry to help other lupus patients and family members cope with this disease. I work as a volunteer to try and eliminate some of the suffering lupus patients have to endure. I do not want to see anyone have to go through what I had to go through simply because the doctors did not know anything about lupus. We send lupus information to anyone requesting information including doctors and other healthcare professionals free of charge. Education is the key to living well with lupus. We have support group meetings each month at Levi Hospital in the boardroom at 300 Prospect Avenue on the 2nd floor starting at 6:30 p.m. We started from nothing in a guest bedroom October 1993 now we are in an office paying $500.00 per month paying an office clerk for 20 hours per week. We serve the entire state of Arkansas, traveling throughout Arkansas whenever we receive a request and we are physically able to. We attend funerals or visit lupus patients whenever we can. Our concern is the LUPUS PATIENT and family members. Listen to the patient. Lupus patients let your voice be heard. Let us do something to help those lupus patients in need of our support and show that we care. The pain we live with on a daily basis is real and we cannot give up on life. We have to learn to endure and keep pushing. Lupus can be mild to severe and it can be life-threatening. I have had both hips replaced and one knee replaced. Only waiting to have the other knee replaced. We never know from one day to another how we will feel but we cannot let lupus rule us, we should rule the lupus. Learn to cope, learn to ask others to help out when you cannot make it. Change your lifestyle and learn to live with lupus. The disease is unpredictable, but we can make it through. Help us spread the word about lupus. Become involved. We have fundraisers for the cause of lupus; 3rd Saturday in April - It's for the Cause of Lupus Gospel Concert; 3rd Saturday in May 5K Race & Walk for Lupus Now; Golf tournament - June 5, 2010; Jazz concert- August 14, 2010 Our only means of obtaining funds is through membership, contributions, memorials, and fundraising. All net proceeds received are used to fulfill Our Mission. LUPUS PATIENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WE NEED YOU TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED WITH THE CHAPTER. SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT YOUR LIFE DOES MATTER AND THAT YOU ARE NOT JUST PRETENDING THAT YOU ARE TIRED AND THAT YOU ARE IN PAIN. I CANNOT DO THIS ALONE, WE NEED YOUR HELP. PLEASE, OUR MEMBERSHIP IS STATEWIDE, EACH MEMBER RECEIVES A LOCAL NEWSLETTER 4 TIMES PER YEAR AND THE LUPUS NOW MAGAZINE 3 TIMES PER YEAR. WE ARE ALSO IN NEED OF BOARD MEMBERS. HELP US.
The Lupus Foundation of America, Arkansas Chapter is the only organization within the state of Arkansas under the umbrella of the Lupus Foundation of America in Washington, DC. The organization has been in existence in Hot Springs since October 1993 working as volunteers to help lupus patients understand what the disease is and what it can do. Many lupus patients benefit from the job this Chapter does to improve the quality of life for lupus patients. Monthly support group meetings and free literature on lupus gives the lupus patients hope after being diagnosed with lupus. I rate this Chapter as being a 5.
