Scene Last Night

Bloomberg.com—November 22, 2011

Several VIPs gathered for the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation gala honoring U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg and his wife, Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, and featuring a performance by Carole King, including the apt “You’ve Got a Friend.”

The event, attended by 700 guests, raised more than $2 million to provide advocacy and support for people with the autoimmune disease and fund lupus research.

“One of the interesting things about lupus is that most people pass,” Susan Golick, a founder and vice president of the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation, said during cocktail hour, referring to the disease’s “invisible” symptoms such as swollen joints and fatigue. “If I started pointing out some of the people here with lupus, you wouldn’t believe me.”

“If it weren’t for the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation, I wouldn’t have my daughter,” Alexander said. It was through the foundation that she learned about gestational surrogacy, which spared her from health risks during pregnancy.

Golick, 64, was diagnosed with lupus 42 years ago. She spent most of this past year in and out of the hospital, battling infections related to her hip joint.

‘Amazing Fighter’

“I’ve done 10,000 hip replacements and Susan is in the top three in terms of level of difficulty,” said Dr. Thomas Sculco, surgeon in chief at Hospital for Special Surgery. “Susan is brave, courageous and an amazing fighter.”

“I won’t be in a wheelchair at next year’s benefit,” interjected the patient.

Story originally published at bloomberg.com.