Heather Moran: September 2010

Make-A-Wish Mentor

August 25, 2010

As the summer comes to an end and we look forward to the start of back-to-school and the Fall season, I received such a thoughtful surprise by my friends at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of NJ. They rely on Mentors to teach and train new volunteers to become Wish Granters and have asked me to become a member of the select few with such a title. It is with absolute honor that I accept and take on this great privledge. I'll never forget my Mentor, Joe, who helped me to become the Wish Granter I am today. I can only hope that I can be half the Mentor that Joe was.

Wish Granters work directly with the children and their families to determine the child’s one true wish and then play an instrumental role in helping to plan, create, and fulfill the child’s wish. These specifically trained volunteers make the wish an unforgettable experience through their attention to detail and imagination. Wish Granters volunteer their time around their own schedule and must be at least 21 years old.

As I take on this wonderful responsibility as a Wish Granter Mentor I will never forget that the sole purpose of the Foundation is to grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. With hope, strength and joy I will do it with a HUGE smile on my face!

Lupus

August 19, 2010

For those who know me know that I don't talk very much about this, but the fact of the matter is.....I have lupus. I don't like to talk about it much. I'm not in denial. No, that's hardly the case. I would simply just rather focus my thoughts on other things rather than allowing this disease to take hold of me. I faced it head on when I was diagnosed many years ago, and since then I have supported, rallied, and donated my time and efforts to try to make a difference for others with this disease. I haven't been as active with it the last two years, as I felt as though my efforts weren't getting anywhere. Well over a million Americans have lupus, however in all these years there has yet to be a drug that could battle it. Sure, we have drugs that help to relieve our symptoms. But nothing that battled it head on. Until now!

Finally, Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a priority review designation to BENLYSTA as a potential treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A priority review designation is granted to drugs that, if approved, offer major advances in treatment or provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists. The FDA has assigned Benlysta a Prescription Drug User Fee Act date of December 9, 2010.

This is terrific news! Until now the very best drug we had (for the most part) was Prednisone, which is a powerful steroid when taken for a long peroid of time. Which, for anyone that's familiar with Prednisone......well, let's just say it isn't pretty.

I pray and hope that Benlysta can be the living saving therapy device that can help my fellow lupus survivors, including myself. In the meantime, I will continue to stay out of the sun, watch my stress level, eat right, exercise and do everything else I do to stay healthy. Let's hope that after ALL these years we finally have something to target this dreadful disease.

With Love,