Portrait of Jennifer for World Lupus Day. See real life version of Jennifer ----> HERE
Jennifer explains: The symbols of Lupus. Purple represents courage and endurance things all lupus patients must have. Butterfly - Traditionally the butterfly represents freedom, transformation and recovery. Also, one of the more common symptoms of Lupus is called a butterfly rash. Wolf - The word lupus in Latin means wolf. This word was used for this disease due to the rash that many patients get a rash across their face that was said to resemble the markings on wolves' faces. Also, the rashes caused by Lupus can look like bite and scratches made by an attacking wolf.
80% of those with Lupus develop it between the ages of 15-45 & Almost 37% of SLE deaths are among people between 15 and 44. Currently 80-90% of Lupus patients survive10 years or more after diagnosis. In a nationwide poll of 1,000 adults conducted for the Lupus Foundation of America, 61% said they knew little to nothing about Lupus. This is a disease that afflicts people of color more so than the caucasian population, however with that being said... what people see of me is not this disease, for I don't look sick ... a little WARPAINT & ATTITUDE goes a long way! ahahaha ;) I have had this disease for 10 yrs. If you understand some of these stats you may have a better understanding of me.
- Jennifer Pavia