World Lupus Day 2013

World Lupus Day increases awareness of lupus and helps gather support for the more than 5 million people affected by this condition worldwide. Lupus is a serious, life-altering autoimmune disease that can affect any organ of the body. Lupus is a disease which remains under-recognized and under-appreciated. 

An autoimmune disease is one in which the immune system is unable to recognize the difference between healthy cells in the body and the foreign cells it fights to remove. A healthy immune system produces antibodies which attack and destroy foreign and invasive cells like viruses, bacteria and germs.

However, in people with lupus, the immune system creates auto antibodies which destroys healthy tissue. The consequence of this can be widespread, causing damage, inflammation and pain throughout the body. Lupus is a potentially fatal disease. Most organs and other parts of the body can be affected, including the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and skin.

The butterfly is often chosen to represent the disease of Lupus as a symbol or logo.
“The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.” ~Rabindranath Tagore 

I created this repeat pattern design inspired from a fused glass tile that I previously made.

To see some more wonderful butterfly designs created for this purpose please visit:
NICE and FANCY a surface pattern design blog by Dawn Clarkson. 
Over there you will encounter a fabulous swarm of butterfly designs that have been submitted from all over the word to celebrate this World Lupus Day 2013!

“Happiness is a butterfly,
which when pursued,
is always just beyond your grasp, but which,
if you will sit down quietly, it may alight upon you.”
~Nathaniel Hawthorne