Making the Leap For Lupus

HI,
Just found this forum. I was diagnosed with lupus in 1989 right after my first baby was born. I had three more babies after that. Then the lupus started to progress and I got sicker and sicker. To make a very long story short... I ended up in the hospital in 2004 and was put on life support. The Dr.'s didn't give me much of a chance. My family started to make funeral arrangements. My lungs were hemorrhaging and they couldn't get them to stop. My kidneys were failing also.

Obviously I didn't die! I pulled through in spite of it all. I had to be on Cytoxan 75mgs. every single day for over a year after that. I was also on huge doses of prednisone. The drugs are horrible. I was told by one Dr. that it's like using a jack hammer to drive a thumbtack.

After my friends and family watched me go through this horrible experience we had a fund raiser to gather funds and money for lupus research. We did this through the LFA in 2005. It was called The Leap For Lupus. We broke the Pacific Northwest Women's skydiving record at that event and raised over $14,000 for research.

This year we have created our own non-profit foundation and now we're having another event here soon. This time we are going to attempt to break the Pacific Northwest record skydive of both men and women. We'll attempt to get 70+ people together in freefall. 100% of all the profits from this and everything else we do will go to lupus research. All of our board members and people working with us are volunteers. We have got some really great people doing lupus research where we'll put our money we raise and we'll be able to post exactly where every dollar is spent.

This new foundation we've started is taking off better than I'd hoped! I've got drop zones across the country contacting me and asking if they can join in and have their own Leap For Lupus events! We're collecting sponsors and donors and pledges. I've started a list of drop zones on our web page that will let anyone take a coupon, downloaded from our web site, to them and make a jump and part of the proceeds will go to Leap For Lupus for research. People all over the country soon will be "Leaping for Lupus" to find a cure.

Anyway that is pretty much my story so far. I'm really hoping to get you all better drugs or a cure soon! At the very least, more people working on it. That is my goal! I need it as much as you do!

Hugs to all~

Valinda Mitchell
Leap For Lupus Foundation

www.leapforlupus.org

Thanks for the nice welcome! My health is doing a bit better these days. Lupus never really goes away though. We all deal with it each and everyday the best we can. Luckily I have great support from friends and family in doing this foundation.

I've been on other lupus forums also but this one looks like it's more frequented than most. Sometimes it's hard to get replies back from other posts. This is great!

Hugs
Valinda
www.leapforlupus.org

This forum is wonderful. I'm really impressed. I have posted on other forums but they're not very active anymore. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone here. Thanks for the welcome!

Hi Kish!

Wow! Wouldn't that be amazing to have drop zones all over the world participating in the Leap For Lupus, donating money for the cure of lupus?
Right now I'm trying to get as many drop zones in America to join in. When they do I list them on the web site. That way people can visit that web site and see if there is a drop zone near them, down load a coupon to take to that drop zone and make a skydive. When they do this, that drop zone will donate part of the proceeds from that jump to the LFL Foundation. I've also got several drop zones that are donating part of the proceeds from all their tandems during the weekend of August 17-20th which is our annual Leap For Lupus event.

There are millions of people that suffer from lupus. When I was really sick my family and friends were at a loss as to what they could do to help me. Some of them gave blood. Some brought food over to the house. Some donated money to cover our expenses. All these things were great but now there is one more thing that people can do. Go out and make a skydive!

The more drop zones that will participate with the LFL Foundation the more people will be able to do this. This is a great opportunity to show just how far you would go to find a cure or better treatments for lupus. Hopefully by doing this we can shed a little light on a disease that has been largely in the dark. Maybe more people will take notice of people that are going to extreme lengths in order to help. The more people that do it the more people will take notice. I'm hoping to get a page up on the web site where you can see people that have made their "leap for lupus".

These are the ideas we are running with right now. If there is a drop zone in your area it can't hurt to call them and ask them if they would like to participate. They can go to our web site and click on the "drop zone" link and there is a place there where they can contact us to sign up to participate. If I can get enough people calling up all the drop zones near them and bugging them about joining us then maybe we can eventually get all the drop zones to participate. That is our goal!

Hi Sue

thanks for the warm welcome. My doctor put me off the prednisone and replaced it with cell cept. It's really helping me alot. you should ask your doctor about it.

Valinda - Awesome news! Welcome aboard. It is encouraging to see people who strive and live through the worst to rebound and help others. The ideas you have come up with for Leap for Lupus are pure genius. So how are those babies of yours? I bet very proud. I would love to give my daughter that gift of positive spirit. In fact, I'll print this for her. Would love to be able to sky dive, always wanted to. I'm from Southern New Jersey (not by choice), is there anything I can do for you on this side of the Continent? Please let me know.

Hi Kish, welcome to the "family". Glad to meet new people. Love the energy it brings. There is so much for all of us to learn about each other and the disease. This has been quite enlightening for me and everyone here a blessing. I hope you find comfort and help here too.

Wish you both the best - Kristin

thank you so will everyone here be in my thoughts and prayers.

HI there, what an inspring person you are!! I have only been a member here for a short time, it was the first Lupus support group that I found and it will be the last. Everyone here is so amazing, I can come here and vent and have people know exactly what I am feeling and going through.

I live in Canada and think that what you are doing is awesome.

Do you actually jump too or just organize it?

Keep up the awesome work, way to go!!!

Connie

Hi Valinda!

I've mainly been lurking these days....been a while since I've posted.  I'm always so amazed by your story!  I like the moniker you chose for this board as well.  For the rest of the people here - Valinda and I met on a different bulletin board that is all but defunct.  This one is SO active it is wonderful! 

I have a Tshirt and hat from that first Leap for Lupus -- AND a little skydiver toy!  I'm looking forward to the chance to add to the Tshirt collection with a 2007 "Leap" shirt - and a donation to the new foundation!  I'm so amazed that you've been able to do so much, Valinda, and knowing that all the dollars will go directly to research is just fabulous.

Many hugs to all,

Hatlady