| Graduation Year | Class of 1988 |
| Date of Passing | Oct 05, 2003 |
| About | In the spring of 1997, at the age of 26, Ginger was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which then developed into lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to become overactive, creating antibodies that attack healthy tissues in the body including the skin, kidneys, lungs, heart and brain. In Ginger's case, it was Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, the most severe form of lupus. True to character, Ginger remained ever positive, optimistic and, of course, humorous. During the long search for a successful treatment, a transplant of her own stem cells - an experimental treatment hoped to regenerate her immune system - became the last option. Although doctors were cautiously optimistic of its success, Ginger refused to believe in anything less and set her sights on the promise of tomorrow's treatments. In October 2003, while recovering from the third transplant - which showed signs of success - Ginger lost her battle to an unrelated brain hemorrhage. Ginger's Tomorrow was established in her memory to promote education, support and research for not only a treatment, but more importantly, a cure for lupus. www.gingerstomorrow.org |
