As if a mildly-successful comeback attempt and a second bankruptcy filing weren't hard enough on singer
Toni Braxton this year, she revealed her ongoing battle with lupus yesterday at a lupus awareness
luncheon. While accepting one of two Women in Achievement awards, she told the audience, "Take
a look, this is what lupus looks like." Supported by her mother and sisters, Braxton explained how she
deals the illness on a daily basis.
Center
Braxton's been a public supporter of the lupus cause for years, performing at Lupus LA's Orange ball last
year and appearing regularly at related charity events. She joins other celebrities such as singer Seal,
rapper Trick Daddy, and the late J Dilla and Michael Jackson as entertainers who suffer or have suffered from the disease.
As an autoimmune disorder, it causes the immune system to attack healthy tissue and can affect the
skin, heart, lungs, kidneys and nervous system. Being diagnosed with lupus in 2005, I can attest to its
harsh effects, having had all of those organs attacked simultaneously years ago. The often unpredictable
nature of lupus could have, along with the heart problems previously blamed, led to Braxton's various
performance cancellations in recent years. Despite her recent hardships, she maintains a positive
outlook.
"Had a great time at the 8th Annual Hollywood Bag Ladies Luncheon," Braxton later tweeted. "A
big moment for me. It was a tough decision to come out about it. But it was such a relief!"
For more information on lupus and to find out ways that you can donate to find a cure, visit the Lupus Foundation of America website.
Toni Braxton Reveals Battle With Lupus [TRU]
