Visiting Oregon!

Hi everyone!

I’m in Oregon with Bev’s friend, Ben.  

He and Bev met when they were 2nd Lt’s stationed at Edwards AFB, CA.  They were both assigned to work at the USAF Test Pilot School.

And even though the instructors kept them quite busy, they managed to have a lot of fun too.

Bev and Ben standing on the flight line to get a closer look at the USAF Thungerbirds.

Now that Ben has completed his active duty commitment, he spends his time as a race car driver at the Portland International Raceway!

And guess what?!?  He let me ride along in his race this past weekend!!!  



Ben racing his car.





Here’s Ben:
“Every time I go to the race track, people ask why I have the Lupus decals and why Lisa Lupie rides along when I race. I tell them that a dear friend of mine, Beverly Knaup, is fighting a tough battle against Lupus, and that not many people are aware of the hardships that people with Lupus face every day. By using my race car as a billboard for the fight against Lupus, I hope to help raise the world’s awareness of this awful disease.


Front of car.





Back of car.

When Bev asked me if Lisa Lupie could ride along in the race car, I thought it would be a great idea to draw attention to the cause. Now, safety is a big concern on the race track, since we’re pushing the limits and reaching speeds of well over 100 MPH. So, since Lisa Lupie is small, the extra seat wouldn’t be a good fit and the belts wouldn’t do a go job of keeping her safe, and of course she wouldn’t be able to see out of the car! So we decided to tape her to the window for the best possible security and vantage point. This also ensured that she would be seen by everyone who was watching!



My viewpoint during the race!



Like Lupus, we have ups and downs in racing. You have to take the small victories when you can get them, and deal with the hard times. This past weekend at the track was no exception. We got off to a bad start, going off the track several times on the first day, damaging parts of the car. We were able to get our times down, however, to be competitive with several other cars. But, with the car not handling well, we had to come up with a plan to move forward and finish the race. On the final race day, I had no idea what to do to get the car to handle properly – I was completely lost. Luckily, there are so many people around the paddock who are ready and willing to help out. You just have to ask sometimes! So with the help of some great people, we adjusted a few things on the car and away we went in our first real race. We had a very bad start to the race, putting us in last place. At that point, we decided to relax and stop worrying about the position we had gotten ourselves into. We simply had to deal with these circumstances and move on. We began to work our way up through the field throughout the race and eventually passed another car that we had been battling for several laps. That was a great feeling – one of those rare successes that you have to be happy about! After passing that car, we focused on what we had to do to finish the race. We didn’t win, but then again sometimes it’s not about winning. It’s about improving yourself and enjoying every moment, even when the odds are against you. 

Some days, it's just not your day.

Lisa Lupie had a great time in the race car, and will have a permanent seat from now on! Whenever we race, I will be reminded that my ups and downs on the track can never compare to what someone with Lupus deals with every day. Lisa Lupie will serve to remind others who see her in the race car that there are great people in the world who are dedicating their lives to finding a cure for Lupus. With everyone’s help, we will find a cure someday, and that great victory will bring the world closer together and save precious lives!

To Bev, and everyone who is fighting this battle,

Race on!”

Thank you Ben, for letting me take a few laps around the track and to visit the beautiful Northwest!  Stay tuned to see where my travels take me next.

Mail Call

Have you seen me?

I've been mailed off somewhere and I'm not sure where I am.  If you have left me on the counter top, in your purse or on a shelf .... would you please mail me to my next destination?  I'm getting kinda bored hanging around.

I've got places to go and people to see!

Please keep me moving!

Thanks!

See you soon!

"The malar, or “butterfly” rash on the face is present in about one-third of those with systemic lupus. This flat, reddish rash across the bridge of the nose and cheeks, is often the only visible symptom of this form of lupus."

For Bev, this was the start of a flare back in 2011. Usually when she sees the butterfly rash get to this point, she will call her doc and he ups her meds to stop it from developing further.

The butterfly rash was her first indication that something was wrong. She honestly thought it was some sort of reaction to her flight mask.  She kept asking the life support people at the squadron to re-fit her oxygen mask because it was causing her to have this rash ... little did she know, she was having flare after flare of lupus.

Luckily, Bev was told to go see the flight surgeon because it was definitely not the mask.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Same thing happens to Alisa.  She says, "Trust me I don't complain about my rash at all!!! It could be a thousand times worse! I'm fortunate. It just feels like wind burn."

These women are so strong. 
We can on see a little bit of thier issues.
They FEEL them all.

Just think ... there are
1.5 MILLION AMERICANS
suffering from this disease!
(And that's just Americans.)

They still go on.
They life their life.
They have good days.
They have bad days.
But, they still go on.

God Bless them for all they endure.

Kiddos in Kansas

Hi!  I made a stop in Lenexa, Kansas! 

These sure are some fun loving kiddos!

The girls showed me their hamsters.

They recently had five babies! 

Those fuzzy little animals are SO cute!

I learned that hamsters eat special pellets made just for them that include all the vitamins and minerals they need.  They also like fruits and vegetables, but can only have small amounts one or twice a week.  

Like hamsters, fruits and veggies are also really good for people!  People with lupus should eat a nutritious, well-balanced, and varied diet that contains plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and moderate amounts of fish and lean meats. Lifestyle adjustments should always include quitting smoking, as tobacco products can cause flares of lupus symptoms.

I sure had a fun visit!

Now I'm off to my next destination!

Alisa in Illinois

When I arrived at the Green household, I was greeted with lots of hugs and a few tears.  Alisa is also a member of Team Knaup and has lupus.  She and her family welcomed me with open arms.

Shortly after I arrived, Alisa said we should all go on a four wheeler ride.  This machine was HUGE for little ole me!  But, since I've heard the Green's are notorious ATV racers ... I knew it would be fun!  So, I jumped right on!

Good thing I'm laminated ~ there's water ahead!

Next, I took a ride with Jeremy and Lainey.  Lainey held onto me real tight to keep me safe.  Riding a four wheeler is pretty fun!

I even got to take a ride with Jeremy and Justin.  Justin is a great little guy.  I think we could be snuggle buddies.  And he giggles a lot.

They took me all around and I saw some beautiful country.

Wide open spaces!

We even came upon a turtle laying eggs!  We were SO excited, but not nearly as excited as Alisa.  She was down right giddy!  I went in for a closer look.

After the four wheeler ride we traveled across Bass Lake to visit their good friends, The Melcho's.  They took me on a HARLEY ride!  Now that was one COOL motorcycle!  After that I got to jump on a trampoline.

I really enjoyed my visit with the Green family.  They showed me that you can't let things get you down, you gotta keep fighting.  Alisa is such a fun mama.  And Jeremy a great supporter for Alisa and their kiddos. Alisa told me something that I will never forget.

I may have lupus,

but it doesn't have me!

I still do the things I love!

I will carry that with me.  I said my goodbyes and am now headed to my next destination.  Stay tuned!

My Visit with Bev in California

Hi everyone! 

I’ve made it safely to California where Bev Knaup lives!  She was so excited to see me that she immediately wanted to show me around. 

Bev flew in the back seat of F-16s and T-38s when she was in the USAF – her doctors believe that the physical pressure these jets put on her body is what triggered her lupus.   So she wanted to take me back to where it all began.

After a quick course in egress training we suited up and hopped in an F-16.  Once we were cleared for take off from the tower, we zoomed down the runway then headed up, up, up, in to the Wild Blue Yonder over the Mojave Desert.

Bev an I flying in the back of an F-16

We got some great aerial shots as well.  Take a look at where Bev lives:

Looking out the canopy

Beautiful Mojave Desert

 

Bev says she really loves living out here.  Wide open spaces, great career opportunities for her husband, and a wonderful rheumatologist.   The only problem is that lupus patients are overly sensitive to the UVA and UVB rays from the sun.  And here in the Mojave Desert there are over 300 days of sunshine a year with temperatures getting up to 115 degrees in the summer!

I asked Bev if there were any trees that provided some shade for her, since I didn’t really see any while we were flying around. 

She explained that there are some trees, but not many like in the Midwest.  The trees that live around here are very unique and with little to no water, its a wonder they grow here at all!  These trees are so unique in fact that they ONLY grow in the Mojave Desert and in Jerusalem in the Middle East!

Well I HAD to go see them!

Here I am learning all about Joshua Trees

These were the goofiest looking things I’d ever seen!  And prickly!  Legend has it they are named “Joshua Trees” dating all the way back to biblical times.

The Israelites are said to have named this species "Joshua" because it mimicked the Old Testament prophet Joshua, with his arms outstretched, waving them on toward the Promised Land.

Emma, Bev and I standing in front of a Joshua Tree

So before I left Bev’s house I asked her if we could tie a purple ribbon around one of the Joshua trees, being that these trees are so UNIQUE and are a great example of surviving against all odds.

I thought it reminded me of lupus patients.  Every person's journey with lupus is so different than the next: from symptoms, to diagnosis, to treatment, every one's case is UNIQUE.  And since there is still no CURE for LUPUS, they are also a great example of surviving against all odds.   

Purple ribbon to symbolize HOPE

So we tied a purple ribbon around a Joshua tree to symbolize HOPE that one day there will be a CURE for LUPUS.



I had a great time visiting with Bev and her family.  Stay tuned to see where I end up next!  Who knows, I may just show up in your mailbox!

5/16

LUPUS FACT OF THE DAY:

Discoid lupus (the most common form of skin lupus) accounts for approximately 10 percent of all cases of lupus and occurs in 20 percent of those with systemic lupus.

2012 Video

LUPUS FACT of the DAY:

"Systemic lupus is the most common type of lupus. Systemic lupus

can affect   any organ system of the body, including the heart,

 kidneys, lungs, blood, joints, and skin."
 

Please view the Team Knaup 2012 Video featuring our team members Bev and Alisa.

Two of the most beautiful, brave, and positive women I know. 

Truly an inspiration.

*Note from Bev*

When I was diagnosed in 2007, the doctors determined that the lupus started in my liver, stomach lining, joints, and skin. Since then, it has spread to my kidneys (lupus nephritis) and the lining of my lungs (pleurisy).

As an added bonus to having lupus, most patients develop other auto-immune disorders. 

I have also been diagnosed with:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sjogren's Syndrome
Raynaud's Phenomenon
Fibromyalgia

If you think you might be suffering from lupus or lupus like symptoms, please please please call your doctor. It just might be the phone call that saves your life.

Lisa Lupie

Good Morning! My name is Lisa Lupie.

This summer I am taking my first trip across America to help spread awareness about a disease called lupus.  I can't wait to see all the people and places I get to visit!  Maybe I'll even get to travel the WORLD!  That would be so cool!

I love butterflies and my favorite color is purple.  You may wonder why.  I like the color purple because it is the awareness color for lupus.  Butterflies are a symbol of the rash that sometimes appears on the faces of those suffering a flare-up.  I bet you are thinking ... what is lupus?

Lupus is a life-threatening disease. It makes something go wrong with the immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs.  When confused, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissues, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. Currently there is no cure for this disease, only medication to treat the symptoms.

My friend, Lori Kilpatrick, is a member of Team Knaup.  Team Knaup is SO awesome!  Along with spreading awareness, they also raise funds and donate to the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA).  The LFA hosts a 5k walk in Los Angeles, California every year in September.  With help from people like you ... last year Team Knaup raised over $23,000!  They appreciate all your help! 

My friend, Beverly Knaup is our team captain.  She is a lupus survivor and a truly amazing woman.  Please click on the names in the column to the right to learn about each person that has inspired us to be a part of such a wonderful cause.  Their stories are sure to touch you.

As I travel America, my photos and details will be submitted to Lori. I am so excited to share my stories with you and even more excited to share information about lupus with you! Lori is also handling all of the donations for me since I will be on the road.

Our team goal this year is $5,000.  Lori and I have set a goal of $500 to help reach that goal.  We would be so greatful for any donation you could make.  To make a donation, please visit our Team Knaup site. or click on one of the "stories" up in the bar on the right and donate to one of the personal sites.  If you are unable to donate at this time, we would appreciate if you would keep our team and all those affected by lupus, in your thoughts and prayers.   Prayers are so powerful.

May is Lupus Awareness Month.  I will be leaving for my first destination on Monday, May 14th!  I will be traveling until the first weeks of September.  Stay tuned to see where I go!