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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
ACKNOWLEDGING MAY AS LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH AND COMMEMORATING WORLD LUPUS DAY
WHEREAS, lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation and damage to multiple parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, and other organs; and
WHEREAS, lupus is unpredictable, often difficult to diagnose, challenging to treat, and can be life-threatening, with no known cause or cure; and
WHEREAS, on average, it can take nearly six years for individuals with lupus to receive a diagnosis from the time they experience symptoms, in part because there is no single test to diagnose the disease; and
WHEREAS, lupus affects an estimated 1.5 million Americans and based on CDC prevalence estimates, 3,800 to 4,300 Cook County residents are likely living with lupus; and
WHEREAS, while lupus can strike anyone, approximately 90 percent of those living with lupus are women, most commonly developing between the ages of 15 and 44; and
WHEREAS, lupus disproportionately impacts African American, Hispanic/Latina, Asian American, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander women, who are two to three times more likely to develop lupus than white women; and
WHEREAS, lupus can cause severe and debilitating symptoms, including extreme fatigue, painful or swollen joints, cognitive issues, anemia, photosensitivity, hair loss, abnormal blood clotting, mouth and nose ulcers, and chest pain when breathing deeply; and
WHEREAS, lupus can significantly impact daily life, with many individuals experiencing limitations in employment and social activities, and often requiring multiple medications and long-term medical management; and
WHEREAS, more than half of Americans report knowing little or nothing about lupus, underscoring the need to increase public awareness of this serious and often misunderstood disease; and
WHEREAS, increasing awareness, education, research, and advocacy is critical to reducing time to diagnosis, improving treatment options, and advancing efforts toward a cure; and
WHEREAS, the Lupus Foundation of America (lupus.org), Lupus Society of Illinois, and grassroots organizations, including Gamma Pi Rho Lupus Sorority, Inc, work alongside allied organizations to provide support services, education, advocacy, and research funding to improve outcomes for individuals living with lupus; and
WHEREAS, World Lupus Day is observed annually on May 10, and serves as an opportunity to raise awareness of lupus and its impact on individuals, families, and communities; and
WHEREAS, the color purple is recognized as the color of lupus awareness, symbolizing passion, courage, and hope, and the purple butterfly is widely recognized as a symbol of the disease; and
WHEREAS, advocates encourage individuals to “Pledge to Make Lupus Visible” and to wear purple on World Lupus Day in solidarity with those affected and in support of efforts to increase awareness and understanding of lupus; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners acknowledge May as Lupus Awareness Month, May 10 as World Lupus Day, and encourage residents to join in raising awareness of lupus and wearing purple in support of those affected by this disease; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this Board recognizes Kimberly Spight Walker as an advocate and member of Gamma Pi Rho Lupus Sorority, Incorporated, and further recognizes individuals living with lupus, their families, advocates, and the organizations working toward further awareness, improved treatments, and a cure.
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