Like so many other people with lupus, Maggi Knapp spent months searching for an answer to what made her joints hurt so much that she couldn’t stand. Maggi was shuttled from doctor to doctor by her mother, with each visit leading to more prescriptions that didn’t work, more unexplained pain, and more hopelessness. Eventually, Maggi was referred to a local rheumatologist who confirmed she has lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Maggi now has lived with lupus for most of her adult life, and she knew that she could make a difference. She wants more people to be aware of lupus, to support lupus research and bring an end to the disease’s brutal impact. Today, Maggi is wearing purple as part of Put On Purple Day, a part of Lupus Awareness Month organized by the Lupus Foundation of America to raise awareness of lupus and the approximately 1.5 million Americans who live with the disease.
90% of people living with lupus are women and the average time to diagnosis is nearly six years, which leaves people with lupus struggling to understand what is happening for that entire time. Today, Put On Purple Day is an opportunity to bring awareness to what lupus is, how to recognize its symptoms and how to support individuals living with lupus.
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease. In simple terms, the immune system in someone with lupus recognizes healthy tissue as a foreign invader and begins to attack it. The result is inflammation that can affect any part of the body: skin, joints, internal organs. Lupus is known as “the great imitator” because, as happened to Maggi, the symptoms can look like other diseases. A rheumatologist can diagnose lupus with a combination of a blood test and diagnostic criteria.
Maggi’s lupus is now in remission with only an occasional flare. “Lupus has affected my life in so many ways – good and bad. It has definitely made me a stronger person and helped me realize how valuable life is. It has taught me that I can handle just about anything while trying my best to have a positive attitude, which doesn’t always help the disease itself, but helps looking at things in a more positive light.”
Locally in Southern California, the Lupus Foundation of America operates a dozen support groups that provide emotional support, encouragement and education resources. Each group is free to anyone who lives with lupus or cares for someone with lupus. Maggi facilitates the West Los Angeles group, which meets digitally on the 2nd Wednesday evening of every month. (www.lupus.org/socal/find-help-5)
Asked why she volunteers her time, Maggi said, “Being involved in the Lupus Foundation of America has been one of the best things I could have ever done. I met some wonderful people within the organization, and I can help people who have the same issues as me (and some, a lot worse). I can listen, give advice, and share my experiences with people that are newly diagnosed. If I can help just one person within my support groups, it makes me so happy.”
What You Can Do
For Put On Purple Day, wear your favorite purple items and encourage others to get involved to end lupus. Whether it’s a purple shirt, hat, sunglasses or more, Go Purple To End Lupus on May 21 and share why you’re wearing purple on social media. You also can support efforts to advance lupus research by either raising funds or making a donation. Tell your friends and family how they can donate and get involved. And, the good news is, this Put on Purple Day your gift can go even further! Make a donation and it will be triple-matched by Master Spas, up to $25,000!
Throughout the month of May, you can be a part of the growing number of individuals, communities, media and celebrities that are making a difference this Lupus Awareness Month in the fight to end the brutal impact of this disease. Learn how you can get involved and donate by visiting lupus.org/LupusAwarenessMonth.
While the documentary succeeds in showing the band’s power and chemistry, and is full of energy, one is left wondering what would have happened if Slovak lived.
The war against two stubborn enemies, such as Iran and Hezbollah, has an interesting lesson to teach on obstacles created by regimes that are polar opposites.
There is something deeply cyclical about Judaism and our holidays. We return to the same story—the same words, the same questions—but we are not the same people telling it. And that changes everything.
Emma’s diary represents testimony of an America, and an American Jewish community, torn asunder during America’s strenuous effort to manifest its founding ideal of the equality of all people who were created in the image of God.
On Yom HaShoah, we speak of six million who were murdered. But I also remember the nine million who lived. Nine million Jews who got up every morning, took their children to school, and strove every day to survive, because they believed in life.
Gratitude is greatly emphasized in much of Jewish observance, from blessings before and after meals, the celebration of holidays such as Passover, a festival that celebrates liberation from slavery, and in the psalms.
The seder table itself is a model of radical welcome: we are told explicitly to invite the stranger, to make room for those who ask questions and for those who do not yet know how to ask.
The playground in Jerusalem didn’t stop antisemitism, and renovating playgrounds in New York City is not likely to stop it there, either — because antisemitism in America today is not rooted in a lack of slides or swings.
As Donald Trump continues to struggle to explain his goals there, his backers have begun casting about for scapegoats to blame for the president’s decision to enter the war. Not surprisingly, a growing number of conservative fingers are now pointing at Benjamin Netanyahu.
America’s national derangement poses myriad challenges to those not yet caught up in it. The anomie is daunting enough for the general public — if that term still makes sense in this fragmented age — and it is virtually insurmountable for the defenders of Israel.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.
Put On Purple Day…Raise Lupus Awareness on May 21st
Lisa Ellen Niver
By Matthew Scelza
Maggi Knapp, Giving Back to Others on POP Day
Like so many other people with lupus, Maggi Knapp spent months searching for an answer to what made her joints hurt so much that she couldn’t stand. Maggi was shuttled from doctor to doctor by her mother, with each visit leading to more prescriptions that didn’t work, more unexplained pain, and more hopelessness. Eventually, Maggi was referred to a local rheumatologist who confirmed she has lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Maggi now has lived with lupus for most of her adult life, and she knew that she could make a difference. She wants more people to be aware of lupus, to support lupus research and bring an end to the disease’s brutal impact. Today, Maggi is wearing purple as part of Put On Purple Day, a part of Lupus Awareness Month organized by the Lupus Foundation of America to raise awareness of lupus and the approximately 1.5 million Americans who live with the disease.
90% of people living with lupus are women and the average time to diagnosis is nearly six years, which leaves people with lupus struggling to understand what is happening for that entire time. Today, Put On Purple Day is an opportunity to bring awareness to what lupus is, how to recognize its symptoms and how to support individuals living with lupus.
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease. In simple terms, the immune system in someone with lupus recognizes healthy tissue as a foreign invader and begins to attack it. The result is inflammation that can affect any part of the body: skin, joints, internal organs. Lupus is known as “the great imitator” because, as happened to Maggi, the symptoms can look like other diseases. A rheumatologist can diagnose lupus with a combination of a blood test and diagnostic criteria.
Maggi’s lupus is now in remission with only an occasional flare. “Lupus has affected my life in so many ways – good and bad. It has definitely made me a stronger person and helped me realize how valuable life is. It has taught me that I can handle just about anything while trying my best to have a positive attitude, which doesn’t always help the disease itself, but helps looking at things in a more positive light.”
Locally in Southern California, the Lupus Foundation of America operates a dozen support groups that provide emotional support, encouragement and education resources. Each group is free to anyone who lives with lupus or cares for someone with lupus. Maggi facilitates the West Los Angeles group, which meets digitally on the 2nd Wednesday evening of every month. (www.lupus.org/socal/find-help-5)
Asked why she volunteers her time, Maggi said, “Being involved in the Lupus Foundation of America has been one of the best things I could have ever done. I met some wonderful people within the organization, and I can help people who have the same issues as me (and some, a lot worse). I can listen, give advice, and share my experiences with people that are newly diagnosed. If I can help just one person within my support groups, it makes me so happy.”
What You Can Do
For Put On Purple Day, wear your favorite purple items and encourage others to get involved to end lupus. Whether it’s a purple shirt, hat, sunglasses or more, Go Purple To End Lupus on May 21 and share why you’re wearing purple on social media. You also can support efforts to advance lupus research by either raising funds or making a donation. Tell your friends and family how they can donate and get involved. And, the good news is, this Put on Purple Day your gift can go even further! Make a donation and it will be triple-matched by Master Spas, up to $25,000!
Throughout the month of May, you can be a part of the growing number of individuals, communities, media and celebrities that are making a difference this Lupus Awareness Month in the fight to end the brutal impact of this disease. Learn how you can get involved and donate by visiting lupus.org/LupusAwarenessMonth.
The Lupus Foundation of America has a questionnaire that can help you learn more: “Could It Be Lupus?”: www.lupus.org/resources/could-it-be-lupus
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