Fifty-two Years . . .
The past few days have brought far too many bumps in the road, and tonight I intended on writing a blurb about those maladies. Instead, lackluster and crap turned into a silver lining. I haven't written about the chest pains, rashes, and general malaise of Lupus in awhile . . . trust me it is all still there. These days I use three layers of make-up--yes, three--to hide the butterfly. If you are wondering Aveeno tinted face lotion, Maybelline Mouse, and Mary Kay mineral powder do wonders to cover and leave me looking more natural than not. But . . . something good did happen. No, no securing of health insurance and a full line, but something good for Lupus in the larger spectrum.
Fifty-two years ago Eisenhower was president, Great Britain recognized the independence of Cyprus (that's more relevant to my research than a tid bit), Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959, the Dodgers won the World Series, and in March (nearly to the date) little girls world wide got a new icon. Barbie debuted on the market. Now, fifty-two years later, Barbie abounds and Lupus patients finally get a new icon of sorts. Benlysta passed the FDA . . . it only took fifty-years, but a new Lupus specific drug has finally passed the FDA.
Yes, Benlysta has some shoddy points . . . the trials did not test enough African Americans (as they are the largest group with the disease), and concerns that the drug's benefits will languish over time abound the research. Also, not all Lupus patients will be viable candidates for the drug . . . last fall, when I had health insurance, my Lupus guy and I talked about it. He was apprehensive, and I can go with that. More so, we both remember when my body loved (what I still call a WONDER drug) Vioxx. Vioxx got pulled because it causes ulcers, heart attacks, and other horrific things. But man, that drug was the bomb for me.
So, as my white self writes about the joys of Lupus patients FINALLY getting a drug passed via the FDA readers should remember . . . I am not one of the privileged few with access via health and health insurance. Instead, I am an uninsured Lupus patient who still relishes in this momentary joy.
Fifty-two years ago Eisenhower was president, Great Britain recognized the independence of Cyprus (that's more relevant to my research than a tid bit), Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959, the Dodgers won the World Series, and in March (nearly to the date) little girls world wide got a new icon. Barbie debuted on the market. Now, fifty-two years later, Barbie abounds and Lupus patients finally get a new icon of sorts. Benlysta passed the FDA . . . it only took fifty-years, but a new Lupus specific drug has finally passed the FDA.
Yes, Benlysta has some shoddy points . . . the trials did not test enough African Americans (as they are the largest group with the disease), and concerns that the drug's benefits will languish over time abound the research. Also, not all Lupus patients will be viable candidates for the drug . . . last fall, when I had health insurance, my Lupus guy and I talked about it. He was apprehensive, and I can go with that. More so, we both remember when my body loved (what I still call a WONDER drug) Vioxx. Vioxx got pulled because it causes ulcers, heart attacks, and other horrific things. But man, that drug was the bomb for me.
So, as my white self writes about the joys of Lupus patients FINALLY getting a drug passed via the FDA readers should remember . . . I am not one of the privileged few with access via health and health insurance. Instead, I am an uninsured Lupus patient who still relishes in this momentary joy.
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