Mother cares for 3 daughters with Lupus shares struggles Caddo Commissioners

CADDO PARISH, La (KTAL/KMSS)—Parish leaders are raising awareness of a disease they say is often overlooked.

Caddo Commissioners made a special resolution recognizing May as Lupus Awareness Month. Commissioner Ron Cothran brought forward the resolution on behalf on his constituent, Angela Durham, who has three daughters with the disease. She shared her family story with the public, saying she tragically lost one of her daughters to Lupus when it attacked her organs. She said despite limited research and awareness, her other daughter just graduated from CE Byrd High School.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that targets healthy cells and causes inflammation, leading to high pain levels.

“She was diagnosed her sophomore year of school. Her knowing she had a sister who passed from Lupus is scary for her. So I’ve been trying to research for her. And so far, there is no cure. There are just treatments. She gets treatments every month. For you to see your child go through that, we want to see what we can do to go beyond here in Shreveport,” Durham said.

Durham is part of the R. Tammy Flemming Lupus Foundation of Shreveport, which will host its annual walk on May 31 at Columbia Park from 9 a.m. until noon. The public is invited to attend, show their support, and learn about resources to help family members manage the disease.