IDA B WELLS MAKES LUPUS A PRIORITY

     Colors of Awareness is a minority health awareness project that educates the students of Ida B. Wells Preparatory Academy Elementary (Wells Prep) and the surrounding community on the health issues that affect them. During the month of April, each class will be assigned days, for which they will wear colored wristbands to display awareness of specific health and social issues. The respective colors will initiate a school-wide conversation regarding the significance of the color. The purpose is to promote the general welfare of our school's students and its surrounding community.  
    The event was orchestrated by Mr. Fredrick Kendricks of Wells Prep.  About 60 kids attended the event that included reading "Loopy Lupus Helps Tell Scott's Story About a Disease Called Lupus,"  and questions and answers.  To prepare for the LFAI's presentation, the teachers at Wells Prep talked to their students about what lupus is.  "I am a lupus supporter" stickers were given out to the students who answered questions correctly - all students got one! (stickers at right) 
     Each child received a purple Band Together for Lupus wristband - and proudly display them in the photo below.
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Benlysta Approved - What is Benlysta?

In March, 2011, the FDA approved Benlysta, the first new lupus drug in 56 years!  The importance of this monumental accomplishment cannot be underestimated.

Questions about Benlysta are natural.  Dr. Robert Katz of the LFAI’s Medical Advisory Board, agreed to answer your questions about the drug.

Q: My mother was diagnosed with lupus about eight years ago and suffered from it much longer than that.  She is African-American.  We have heard that this new drug is not as effective for African-Americans.  Could you please advise?

A: The population size of African Americans in the study was not large enough to determine the effectiveness of BENLYSTA in that population.  Additional research is planned to evaluate the effectiveness of BENLYSTA on African Americans.

That said, it does not mean the drug will not be effective in individual cases, but whether to use BENLYSTA depends on the activity of the lupus and whether it seems like a good idea in an individual patient, so I would not exclude it in your mother’s case. 

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Welcome!

Welcome to the LFAI’s official Living Well With Lupus Blog!

We hope you will find this site helpful and educational. We plan to include foundation activities and educational opportunities as well as lupus stories.  As always, we ask for your suggestions to make the blog as helpful and meaningful as possible!

Enjoy!