ABSTRACT
Shortly after the birth of her second child, Meg was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. As the disease progressed she was given a further diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus, as it is most commonly called, is a potentially dangerous chronic auto-immune disease that can affect virtually any organ of the body. In lupus, the immune system that normally protects the body becomes hyperactive, and forms antibodies that attack healthy tissues and organs including the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, lungs, heart and blood. For Meg the condition was serious and she slowly deteriorated and eventually died at the age of 54.
