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A Letter from the President I hope this email finds you well and safe. The holidays are here and this is the last Butterfly Effect Newsletter for 2022. 2023 is a special year for LSI - it will mark our 50th anniversary! In 1973, a group of volunteers started an organization dedicated to serving the lupus community. And today, that organization is the Lupus Society of Illinois. We'll be planning special activities and inviting YOUR recollections throughout the year. This milestone anniversary is one we can all share together! It's fitting that we have a membership drive as we enter our 50th year. We invite you to join us as members to take advantage of the printed newsletter we will be mailing to our members homes. The printed newsletter will detail our activities, articles and YOU - the lupus community we work so hard to serve. We hope you will make an end of year donation to LSI. Your donations make the work we do possible: - Bringing you articles like Dr. Katz's "What should people with lupus know about anxiety and depression"
- Educational events, like the annual Rush Lupus Clinic & LSI Educational Event is another way we meet the needs of the lupus community.
- Sharing your stories and recognizing Lupus Warriors
- Working with volunteer leaders to offer Lupus Support Groups
- Providing Financial Assistance
These are just a few of the ways we work to meet your needs. Finally, we want to thank all of YOU for making 2022 such a special year. We hope the new year is filled with health and joy. Together we make a difference. Mary |
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| WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE WITH LUPUS KNOW ABOUT ANXIETY & DEPRESSION The holidays can increase anxiety and depression in many people. We thought an article highlighting what we know about lupus, anxiety and depression would be helpful this time of year. In a study on anxiety and depression in lupus, Liao and others in the journal BMC Psychiatry (2022), found that among 325 patients with lupus involved in the study, patients with depression or anxiety have significantly higher lupus activity and more frequent musculoskeletal and neuropsychiatric symptoms. In addition to body injury from lupus, there is an increased risk of mental disorders including depression and anxiety. In the study, family income, disease activity, and musculoskeletal and neuropsychiatric symptoms were related to depression. Lupus disease activity was associated with anxiety. Full Article |
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| Rush Lupus Clinic Educational Event The Annual Rush Lupus Clinic & LSI Educational Event was an educational and important occasion. This year, the Rush Lupus Clinic team, received a plaque in recognition of their outstanding contribution to lupus education. LSI is honored to have a close partnership with a leading lupus clinic in metro Chicago. In addition, Stacy Jaimes, MD & LaShon Gurrola, BSN, RN, two health care professionals with lupus, shared their stories - and received recognition for their ongoing commitment to service to the lupus community. Congratulations to everyone involved in making this a special event! We look forward to seeing you all next year! View presentations from the event: Lupus & Body Image – Presented by Dr. Meenakshi Jolly
–Handout
Lupus & Men – Presented by Dr. Dmitriy Cherny
New Medications & Lupus – Presented by Dr. Ailda Nika |
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| Lupus Warrior Blanca Gonzalez
Lupus Warrior Wednesday Mari is my first born. As she was growing up she has always been the party animal in our family. She was great in planning all the holidays and cooking all the meals in our family. She was also both of my parents' caregiver. Taking care of them she learned so much about the medical field. When she was diagnosed she made a promise to herself and us that she would learn so much about these illnesses to not only teach herself but also us, her family. Full Story |
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| We've already started recruiting for the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Since 2007, LSI has had a team in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. We are so proud of our runners and honored by the runners who have joined our team over and over again! If you are looking for a guaranteed spot in the marathon, join Lupus Charity Runners! Guaranteed spots come with a fundraising minimum. If you have a spot in the race, join Lupus Charity Runners and get ALL of the benefits with NO fundraising minimum! When you run for Lupus Charity Runners, we are with you every step of the way! Team members get: - Training to help you complete the Bank of America Chicago Marathon safely!
- 2 tickets to the pre-marathon pasta party!
- LSI Water Bottle + goodies!
- Lupus Charity Runner singlet!
- Additional fundraising incentives for exceeding your goal!
- Receive personalized fundraising webpage to help you reach your fundraising goal!
- LCR fundraising guide, creative tips and one-on-one assistance to help you reach your goal!
- Exhilaration of doing good for others while doing well for yourself!
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| Fatigue & Lupus A major problem for people living with lupus is fatigue – chronic debilitating fatigue that significantly decreases quality of life and increases the risk of work disability. How does someone manage fatigue? Finding strategies that work for you and for lupus patients in general is the purpose of the Lupus Intervention Fatigue Trial (LIFT). MORE |
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Lupus Clinical Trial Opportunity If you have lupus, you may qualify.
• Do you have active lupus that is not responding to your current medications?
• Are you between the ages of 18-65?
If so, you may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial testing if a new type of cellular therapy is effective and safe in treating active lupus. MORE |
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| New Support Group Meeting Dates Listed Ever thought of joining a Lupus Support Group? Start planning now! Groups are virtual and some meet in person. Our Support Group Leaders are Lupus Warriors. Please contact Lisa at lisa@lupusil.org or 312-542-0006 to find the group that best fits your schedule. Click here for a link to LSI's volunteer run Support Groups! |
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