WeAreLupus.org - The Social Support Network for People Living with Lupus & Fibromyalgia

Lupus patient fights back with vim

Emma Rutkowski of Hamburg, plans to fight “the wolf.” But don’t confuse her with Little Red Riding Hood.

Emma,

a Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart senior, battles lupus—Latin for

“wolf.” She has dedicated herself to founding a research facility in

the future, focusing on auto-immune diseases, like lupus.

The 17-year-old is already on that path with an internship at the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute.

“I’m

the type of person who has an immense amount of willpower. When there’s

something I want, I try as hard as I can until I get it,” concedes

Emma, who’s also volunteered at Hospice and Roswell Park Cancer

Institute research labs.

“Yes, this disease has stopped me from doing certain things, such as staying out in the sun all day.”

Then

there are instances of “feeling fatigued and having joint pain, most of

the time,” adds Emma, who plans to earn a Ph. D. in immunology.

However,

Emma points out that as “a young woman living with systemic lupus, I’ve

become very interested in immunology and genetics. I’m obviously aware

of the symptoms and treatments for the disease. But I want to know more

about the disease on a molecular level.

“My mother also has

systemic lupus, and I want to know how systemic lupus, and other

auto-immune diseases, relate to the genetics of a certain group of

people.” When Emma was diagnosed, her mom, Katharine Pulkownik, admits

she felt “so depressed knowing that my daughter would have to go

through what I have—pain, tests, medicines, feeling tired and sick. But

I had to accept what God gave her, and tackle her disease the best way

we knew how, too. What I’ve witnessed has amazed me.

“I look at

Emma and wish I could have half the strength she has; she looks at me

and wonders how I live with my lupus. I jokingly tell people my Emma

will find a cure for all these auto-immune diseases—and I really think

she will. Emma’s had many challenges trying to adjust to her chronic

illness, but she’s come out a winner every time.”

Emma will study biology, with a concentration in immunology and genetics, this fall at Duquesne University.

Lupus

is a puzzling, chronic, inflammatory illness in which the immune system

can assault healthy tissues and organs. Patients can become so

fatigued, sore and sick they can barely get out of bed. They may suffer

a tell-tale butterfly-shaped rash on their faces. Symptoms can run from

mild to severe, and mysteriously appear and disappear. Lupus, some

researchers believe, might be increasing. However today with earlier

diagnosis and careful treatment, in most cases it’s controllable.

Emma

is the best proof of that. She’s won awards for her volunteer work.

Participating in the Erie County Youth Leadership Program, she’s even

reached out to others in need, in groups like Amnesty International.

“I’m not sitting around, letting this disease take over,” she vows.

“You only get one life.”


LINK: http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/southernsuburbs/story/674002.html?imw=Y