Mother, All 6 Children Struggle With Same Life Threatening Illness; Family to Help Lupus Foundation Bring Message to Congress

4/10/2002

From: Duane Peters of the Lupus Foundation of America, 301-670-9292, ext. 17; peters@upus.org News Advisory: Moms know that it can be very difficult to care for a sick child. Imagine, however, having six children in the same family all suffering from the same illness several times every year; an illness that causes severe joint pain, fevers, and overwhelming fatigue. Now, add a mother who also suffers from the same mysterious incurable disease that makes just standing up a painful and challenging experience. If you can imagine this situation, then you may have some idea of what it is like for the Cluck family of Norman, Oklahoma, to live with lupus everyday. Cynthia and Lynn Cluck, and their six children, will join 130 other individuals affected by lupus on Capitol Hill Thursday, April 18, for the Fourth Annual Lupus Foundation of America Advocacy Day. Lupus advocates will be urging Congress to help the estimated 1,400,000 Americans afflicted with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the body!&s own cells, tissue and organs. Lupus advocates seek funds to expand research, and to establish both a Federal Working Group on Lupus and a National Lupus Patient Registry. -- Lupus strikes mostly women in their childbearing years, although men and women of all ages can develop lupus. -- Lupus is two to three times more common among people of color, especially African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics and Asians. -- There is no cure for lupus and there is no single test to diagnose the disease. -- Average annual medical expenses for a person with lupus exceed $6,000; however, among more serious cases, medical expenses can exceed several thousand dollars per month. -- One in five persons with lupus are disabled and cannot work. The Lupus Foundation of America is the nation's leading non-profit voluntary health organization dedicated to lupus. The LFA mission is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of lupus, support individuals and families affected by the disease, increase awareness of lupus among health professionals and the public, and find the cure. The LFA is celebrating 25 years of service. Editors Note: Luncheon program to be held from 12:00 PM until 1:30 PM in B339 Rayburn House Office Building. Dr. Stephen Katz, Director NIH/NIAMS, will update lupus advocates on the latest developments in lupus research. Members of Congress also have been invited to deliver brief remarks.