The talented Kellie Martin lost her younger sister, Heather, to lupus in 1998.

Best friends growing up, the two girls survived their parents' divorce together. Her sister encouraged Kellie in her acting career. Shortly after Heather's sophomore year of college, she got what the doctor thought was the flu. As her sympoms got worse, the doctor gave her medication to which she was allergic and she had convulsions. Thus began the nightmare that ended with her tragic death a short time later.

Realizing it must be more than the flu, Kellie and her mother took Heather to another doctor who diagnosed the lupus and began a course of treatment. You can read the story of her loss in Kellie's own words. Kellie Martin became a spokesperson for American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) and has received awards for her tireless work for this cause.