Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Editor
Dexter, Missouri – On Saturday, April 5, 2014 the 2nd Annual Sarcoidosis Awareness Balloon Launch will be held at the Dexter High School football field. Everyone is invited to participate! The local balloon launch is in honor of Kim Lacy who has kept a positive attitude and a deep faith while battling this rare and debilitating disease.
This disease is extremely difficult to diagnose. Kim’s first signs were as early as 1998. “When I began having chronic headaches, I was checked for MS, Lupus, migraine and tension headaches,” stated Kim.
After years of tests, Kim finally had a biopsy performed at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri and in October of 2006 was properly diagnosed with neurosarcoidosis.
Neurosarcoidosis refers to a condition of unknown cause featuring granulomas in various tissues. It involves the central nervous system, brain and spinal cord.
Most people have not even heard of the disease that Kim battles every day of her life. Kim still travels to St. Louis and is undergoing chemotherapy. She takes many medication and steroids to help control the disease. She has lost some of her hair and the disease has distorted her facial features. Kim’s speech is somewhat slurred at times and she has trouble with her eyesight and hearing. She also suffers from dizziness and has lost her independence.
People with sarcoidosis can go into remission, but there is no known cure. Kim is hopeful some day she may have that chance and a chance to live a normal life. Kim would love to go back to work, pick up the groceries or even go shopping. She would love to be able to go to the park and play with her grandson. Instead Kim must remain at home, reading her books and having her computer where she avidly keeps up with her friends and family on Facebook.
Her sister, Kelly Mangus, says that Kim has made many friends through her sarcoidosis support group. It’s time to raise awareness and support Kim! April is Sarcoidosis Awareness Month and on April 5th purple balloons will be launched all over the world.
Meet Kim and her family and friends at the football field in Dexter at 1:30 p.m. for the balloon release at 2:00 p.m. Bring as many purple balloons as you can with helium so you may fill the sky with purple in support of Kim and all those affected with this terrible disease.
