Corrie F.’s Story

I am the mother of Charlene C., a fallen victim of Lupus. Charlene was diagnosed with Lupus at what seemed, to me, the tender age of 41 in the year 2000.

As medical treatment for Lupus was unavailable in her city, she did not receive active medical care until September 2001, while in Colorado, during which time she was hospitalized multiple times. To the best of our family's knowledge, there was no family history of Lupus, a disease that was foreign to us at the time.

Throughout her battle with Lupus, Charlene went from being a full-figured, energetic person to a frail individual, suffering from many symptoms of the disease, including crippling arthritis, hair loss, skin discoloration, and pleurisy. However, Lupus ultimately attacked her heart, severely weakening her. Her battle ended on Friday, December 28th, 2007.

The years following her passing have been focused on raising her young son, who is now an adult, while working to increase awareness of this devastating illness and, prayerfully, promoting healthier outcomes for those living with Lupus.