I'm the kind of person who is totally outside the box. I don't play by the rules, I make them up as I go. I hate the fact that there are so many great people that I've lost in my travels. I've been here and there and experienced this and that... okay a little bit of everything. I try to make the best of every situation. One thing that I want to leave behind when I leave this life is my contagious laughter, and knowing that no matter what situation I've ever been in or ever will be in, I'm a survivor. I have Lupus. It's this horrible disease. It's an auto immune disease that is simiallar to HIV. HIV patients can't fend off any virus, with Lupus my body fights itself; as in tissue, skin, joints and organs. The last 2 years of my life has been hell. I spend all of my time either working in a hospital or being a patient myself. I live my entire life in pain or at least being restriced from things so that I don't get hurt of sick. I have had almost every symptom of Lupus and all of the side effects from every drug that is suppose to keep me going. I hate it. I hate waiting for the next big problem, ER trip, and even the next medication. I know that this is my fate and most days I'm very accepting of it, however sometimes... "Lupus Sucks" I just want to live happy as long as I do have here, and for people to remeber that when I am gone, instead of all the pain and suffering in the meantime. Lupus is one of America's least recognized major diseases. Nearly 1.5 million Americans have lupus. In fact, more Americans have lupus than cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia, and cystic fibrosis combined, making it one of this country's most prevalent medical problems. However, while lupus is widespread, awareness and accurate knowledge about it lag behind many other illnesses. Lupus is on the rise, and scientists don't know exactly why.