-By Danielle De Souza-

When Brenda Letford, 36, was diagnosed with lupus in 2007 she was shocked.

“No one in my family had it so I was speechless,” she said.

Letford, former vice president and office manager of Irie Jam Media, is now on a quest to find a kidney donor and to beat her disease.

“When I was diagnosed with lupus it was stage four,” she said. “By the time they detected it took affect of the kidneys. I have been in dialysis since 08.”

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, the heart and the lungs, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.

Almost all people with lupus have joint pain and swelling and some develop arthritis. Joints that are frequently affected are the fingers, hands, wrists, and knees.

Some symptoms include: Chest pain when taking a deep breath, fatigue, fever with no cause, general discomfort, hair loss, mouth sores, sensitivity to light, skin rash or ‘butterfly” rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose and swollen lymph nodes.

“You are just miserable,” Letford said. “You are tired and in a lot of pain. You really want to push yourself and you can’t.”

Lupus is more common among women then men.

Black women are three times more likely to get lupus than white women, tend to develop lupus at a younger age, and have more severe symptoms then white women.

Even though the last couple of years have been difficult, Letford said she has received a great amount of love and encouragement from family and friends.

“They have been very supportive,” she said.

(l-r) Brenda, Bobby Clarke and Brenda’s daughter Kimberly,

Bobby Clarke, CEO of Irie Jam Media spoke highly of Letford.

“There are so many words that can describe her,” Clarke said. “She is one of the best people I have ever worked with in my entire life.”

Letford said that the person who has been the main rock in her life is her 13-year-old daughter Kimberly.

“She is being strong,” Letford said. “She is a good girl and maintains her grades.”

Letford had a message for her community.

“I would tell my Caribbean people to take care of themselves,” she said. “I had constant fatigue and aches and got it checked out when I could not even comb my hair. Don’t take anything for granted because it can be really serious.”

Letford’s blood type is A+ but she can also have a donor who has O type blood.

If you are interested in being a donor contact:
New York Presbyterian Hospital
Marian Charlton, RN, CCTC
Senior Transplant Coordinator
525 East 68th St. Box 98
New York, New York, 10065
212-746-1742
mbc2001@nyp.org

REGISTER NOW AND JOIN TEAM CARIB CONNECT AND THE IRIE JAM FAMILY AS WE WALK IN SUPPORT OF BRENDA IN THE NEW YORK CITY WALK FOR LUPUS NOW ON SATURDAY, MAY 21ST at SOUTH STREET SEAPORT.