Providing Answers, Support and Hope in Georgia
Thirty-One Faces of Hope: Garrett Stauff
The lupus community includes people living with lupus, friends, family, and supporters across Georgia. For Lupus Awareness Month, we would like to highlight some of our lupus heroes and champions.
Meet Garrett Stauff
Hi, I’m Garrett Stauff. I’m the son of Catherine Stauff. I'm here to talk about how lupus doesn’t only affect my mom. It also affects the others around her, such as me. You might be like, how does it affect a kid? Well, I’m here to tell you it can and does.
There are many ways it affects others around her, such as me. I love my mom so much, and it hurts to see when she is sick, and the thought of her being sick hurts. Many days she has flares, and she doesn’t have enough energy to get out of bed. It hurts to see her like that. She is exhausted all the time. There are countless hospital visits, especially when she has a flare. It hurts to see my mom like this. This is how it affects people around her, such as me.
Even when my mom is feeling well, I still live everyday with the fear of her illness flaring up because it happens so quickly. I pray every night for God to make my mom well. I feel my mom is so brave and strong. Even through her illness she still takes care of me and tries her hardest. Sometimes too hard.
The closer we get to a cure, the closer I get to having my mom back. I miss having her at my lacrosse games. I miss spending quality time with my mom. I miss going fishing with my mom. Please help us find a cure not just for my family, but for all the families affected by this disease.
Thank you,
Garrett Stauff
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsor
Choosing to prioritize your kidney health might be uncomfortable, but the reality is that up to 30% of people who live with lupus nephritis may experience kidney failure, which can lead to dialysis or even a kidney transplant. Luckily, there are steps you can take now that may help, such as scheduling routine tests and asking your doctor about treatment options. Talk to your doctor to learn more about routine testing and treatment.
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