A Film by Keith Famie

A warrior is rarely silent – and in the popular image, warriors are revered and honored
by those around them. Yet, in the United States alone, there are between 1.5 and 2 million warriors
fighting personal and quiet battles against an enemy that few people know.

They have Lupus.

Lupus is a chronic disorder of the immune system which may affect the skin, joints, blood vessels,
and internal organs. In layman’s terms, Lupus is a war that the body wages against itself – it is not
contagious and there is no known cure.

Tragically, Lupus is a disease that primarily afflicts young women of child-bearing years. Most of
these women are of African American, Hispanic, or Asian descent. Symptoms may be mild, or they
may be life-threatening, and thousands of Americans succumb each year.

More people suffer from Lupus than cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia, and cystic
fibrosis combined, and yet, somehow, Lupus remains in the shadows of our consciousness, far
from the public eye. It is difficult to diagnose and often misunderstood, even by those closest to the
afflicted.

The goal of the film, Silent Warriors – Living with Lupus, is to dispel such misunderstandings, to
increase awareness of this sly and unpredictable disease. Within the film, we will explore the world
of the afflicted; a world which ranges from Grammy-winning superstars to the women and men who
live next door. We’ll follow them all through support groups and treatment centers, gaining insight
into medical advancements and the status of the Holy Grail that all Lupus patients seek: A cure.
But most importantly, Silent Warriors – Living with Lupus will celebrate the courage of those who
have faced the capricious symptoms of Lupus, and who brave daily treatment regiments while
maintaining a positive outlook and preserving a remarkable quality of life.

Without question, these “silent warriors” are heroes, but, until now, they have remained largely
unsung. It is the mission of Silent Warriors – Living with Lupus to bring their struggles and triumphs
to the forefront, to honor them as warriors, and to make their inspirational stories relevant to the
struggles that we all face.

 

©2011 A Visionalist Entertainment Production