Meet Tina Magtalas, a woman whose own struggle with Lupus inspired her to reach out to others by founding the Lupus Wings Support Group. The Lupus Wings Support Group is a community made up of individuals with mixed connective tissue diseases, as well as friends and family members looking for ways to provide understanding and support.
Magtalas realized that the people affected by these conditions, both directly and indirectly, are often faced with fear, misconceptions, and even hopelessness. She is working to change all that with both her support group and her highly informative and uplifting website, www.Lupus411.com.
The group and the website not only provide excellent information about the condition and its current medical treatments, they also delve deep into the personal side of living with Lupus. Magtalas wanted to create a place where people could go for support and answers. Most importantly, she wants people to know that they are not alone-that their thoughts and fears are normal and can be dealt with through education, positivity, and spirituality.
Monthly meetings, featuring a social hour and various expert speakers, help Lupus and other chronic illness patients develop a network of friends they can turn to. As with any of life's struggles, the best help often comes from those who don't just sympathize, but actually empathize with what you are going through.
It's common for the loved ones of people suffering from any serious medical condition to feel confused and uncertain about how they can provide comfort and encouragement. Part of the mission of the Lupus Wings Support Group is to include family members and friends in its community. By better understanding the condition and the feelings of those living with it, loved ones are better equipped to give support and can more easily cope with the situation themselves.
Another goal of the group is to promote awareness among the public at large. Lupus is often misunderstood. One of the greatest fears is that the condition is contagious, which it is not. Many people have heard of Lupus, but few fully understand it: the cause, its symptoms, and how it affects the people living with it. In response to this lack of understanding, the Lupus Wings Support Group continues to contribute to public education and awareness.
To help achieve this goal, the site includes several informative sections, including an explanation of what Lupus is and a listing of the different types. Additionally, the site explains that Lupus Erythematosus is only one of many mixed connective tissue diseases. Magtalas also included a photo gallery and glossary of terms to put all of those scientific words into the context of reality.
The Lupus Wings Support Group is an invaluable resource for everyone and anyone whose life has been touched by the condition in some way. But it needs financial support to keep going. There are three ways you can donate to the group: as a member, a sponsor, or a volunteer. Donating online is simple and secure.
While anyone can benefit from the information provided on Lupus411.com, becoming an official member and contributing membership dues comes with additional benefits, including participation in meetings and programs, newsletters, and even a t-shirt and button. Donating as a sponsor is an excellent way to honor a loved one with Lupus because it allows you to make both honorary and memorial donations.