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This was Norton's first indication of a more serious involvement of the central nervous system. If left unattended, meningitis can produce permanent neurological deficits such as seizures, motor abnormalities, and cognitive dysfunction. Again the treatment involved a high dose of IV steroids, and this time Norton was forced to take a medical leave of absence from her studies.
Upon returning to Arizona to spend time with her family, Norton was subsequently diagnosed with Lyme disease, and the treatment involved IV Rocephin. After spending a few days in the intensive care unit, she was sent home with a peripherally inserted central catheter-a PICC line, through which she could self-administer the necessary medications.

Norton returned to Columbia University to resume her studies the following year, but again had to deal with a symptom of her disease called papilledema, an intense swelling of the optic nerve. Again, she was treated with steroids and the lupus was kept at bay long enough for her to complete an undergraduate degree in 1999, although not in the premed program she had entered. Still avidly interested in pursuing a medical career, Norton's next step was to enroll in a Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program at Bryn Mawr College.

By this time, at the age of 26, Norton's lupus episodes had become increasingly severe and frequent. Since her first episode in 1995 and over a period of five years, Norton had had four episodes of aseptic meningitis. In the summer of 1999, she began experiencing excruciating headaches and had wrist drop, a joint specific loss of muscle control resulting from the neurologic involvement. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) revealed a brain stem lesion, and Norton was treated with IV steroids along with monthly chemotherapy treatments of Cytoxan (an anti-cancer drug that works by suppressing the immune system). Norton's treatment also included a course of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy to assist her weakened immune system in the fight against infection.

Norton, now 28 years old, is currently living at home in Arizona while she recovers from her latest bout with lupus. When asked how lupus has affected her personal life, Norton said that her friendships have changed dramatically. Many of her previous friends had little understanding of her problems, and because Norton continued to look extremely healthy and athletic throughout the ravages of the disease, her friends had a tendency to ignore or discount her disabilities. These days, Norton finds that her closest friends are those who have experienced similar physical problems, or who have loved ones who have dealt with painful diseases.

Norton has now been on a steady dose of steroids for three years, and has learned to anticipate lupus flare-ups at an average rate of one per month. She has made her struggle with the disease an inspiration for learning, and plans to study the medical specialty immunology. When asked what her advice to people newly diagnosed with lupus might be, her answers were:

- Educate yourself about the disease; it is much easier to wage war against what is known.
- Talk, talk, talk to others that share your situation. Find support groups and talk some more.
- Maintain a current list of your medications and your known allergies.
- Above all, keep an accurate and complete synopsis of your medical history, including copies of all your test results. These will be helpful to your doctors in providing baseline parameters and other crucial information needed to diagnose and treat new lupus episodes and will hopefully eliminate a need to repeat tests or perform unnecessary one.

Norton's story is one of empowerment and a deep passion for life and learning. In addition to pursuing her own career in medicine, she is helping to establish an organization named Lupus Inspiration Foundation for Excellence (L.I.F.E.). The organization's purpose is to promote awareness of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and to provide financial and educational assistance to college students with the disease. College degrees are often more difficult for individuals with Lupus to attain; many individuals with organ-threatening disease must delay school or drop out altogether. Those who are able to attend may need to reduce their course load. This part-time status places a substantial financial burden on any student, since most financial aid or scholarships are given only to full-time students. The Foundation realizes the obstacles a student with Lupus faces, and was created to help these students achieve their academic goals by providing financial and educational assistance. Every year the Foundation will select students to receive The L.I.F.E. Scholarship who have demonstrated courage and perseverance in their struggle to overcome the limitations of Lupus.