Purple snowflake for Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness

Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness

 Improving lives, one snowflake at a time.

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Our Story

About Us

Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that offers temporary financial and social support to those suffering from Sarcoidosis. We pride ourselves on being a reliable resource for those suffering from the disease and their loved ones. We educate the community through healthcare fairs, church events, speaking engagements, and any community event in which we can participate and spread information on Sarcoidosis.

Meet Ericka

Our Founder

Ericka Adams’ life was turned upside down at the age of 32. After being sick for three weeks without getting any better, she was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 2008. Her neurologist at the time explained that the disease was vary aggressive, and was present in her lung, lymph nodes, lacrimal and parotid glands, muscles, frontal sinus, and liver.
She had excruciating body pain and swelling, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain 24 hours a day, and could barely walk without assistance. Ericka was even told that she wouldn’t live to be 35 years old—just three years time!
Thankfully, with medications and treatments, Ericka lived beyond the initial diagnosis of three years, and her symptoms are more manageable. Yet, she found that resources for sarcoidosis sufferers were nearly non-existent. There were no support groups in her area, limited information available beyond the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research online database, and it seemed like no one even knew about the disease. After seven years of suffering and searching for support, Ericka felt called on by God to matters into her own hands, and founded Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness in 2015. 

Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness now offers support group meetings for people with sarcoidosis and their families, as well as temporary financial support for sarcoidosis sufferers who have had a hardship. No one deserves to suffer alone, so it is our mission to change the lives of those battling sarcoidosis, one snowflake at a time. 

Once thought rare, sarcoidosis is now known to be common, and affects people worldwide. It’s estimated that the prevalence of sarcoidosis in the U.S. ranges between 150,000 and 200,000, with an estimated 1.2 million individuals with sarcoidosis worldwide.

Snowflakes represent the unique challenge of living with sarcoidosis—no two people are alike! Some may require little treatment, and others may require intensive treatments over many years.

 The disease can affect people of any age, race and gender, but in the United States, the disease affects African Americans more often and more severely than other races. The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown.

What We're Fighting

Sarcoidosis FAQs

  • What is Sarcoidosis?

    Sarcoidosis (pronounced SAR-COY-DOE-SIS) is a non-contagious, inflammatory immune system disease characterized by the formation of granulomas, tiny clumps of inflammatory cells that can cause any organ in the body to not work properly, and in some cases, causes the organ to shut down. Affected organs in the body can include the heart, skin, liver, kidneys, brain, sinuses, eyes, muscles, bones, and others. Sarcoidosis most commonly targets the lungs and the lymph nodes.

  • What are the symptoms?

    Signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis vary depending on which organs are affected. Sarcoidosis sometimes develops gradually and produces symptoms that last for years. Other times, symptoms appear suddenly and then disappear just as quickly. Many people with sarcoidosis have no symptoms, so the disease may be discovered only when a chest X-ray is done for another reason.


    General symptoms:

    Sarcoidosis can begin with these signs and symptoms:

    • Fatigue
    • Swollen lymph nodes
    • Weight loss
    • Pain and swelling in joints, such as the ankles

    Lung symptoms:

    Sarcoidosis most often affects the lungs and may cause lung problems, such as:

    • Persistent dry cough
    • Shortness of breath
    • Wheezing
    • Chest pain

    Skin symptoms:

    Sarcoidosis may cause skin problems, which may include:

    • A rash of red or reddish-purple bumps, usually located on the shins or ankles, which may be warm and tender to the touch
    • Disfiguring sores (lesions) on the nose, cheeks and ears
    • Areas of skin that are darker or lighter in color
    • Growths under the skin (nodules), particularly around scars or tattoos

    Eye symptoms:

    Sarcoidosis can affect the eyes without causing any symptoms, so it's important to have your eyes checked regularly. When eye signs and symptoms do occur, they may include:

    • Blurred vision
    • Eye pain
    • Burning, itching or dry eyes
    • Severe redness
    • Sensitivity to light

    Heart symptoms:

    Signs and symptoms related to cardiac sarcoidosis may include:

    • Chest pain
    • Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
    • Fainting (syncope)
    • Fatigue
    • Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
    • Rapid or fluttering heart beat (palpitations)
    • Swelling caused by excess fluid (edema)

    Sarcoidosis can also affect calcium metabolism, the nervous system, the liver and spleen, muscles, bones and joints, the kidneys, lymph nodes, or any other organ.


    When to see a doctor:

    See your doctor if you have signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis as listed above.



    Sarcoidosis information sourced from The Mayo Clinic.

    Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The material on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as medical advice. 

  • What are possible causes of Sarcoidosis?

    Doctors don't know the exact cause of sarcoidosis. Some people appear to have a genetic predisposition to develop the disease, which may be triggered by bacteria, viruses, dust or chemicals.


    This triggers an overreaction of your immune system, and immune cells begin to collect in a pattern of inflammation called granulomas. As granulomas build up in an organ, the function of that organ can be affected.



    Sarcoidosis information sourced from The Mayo Clinic.

    Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The material on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as medical advice. 

  • What are the risk factors for developing the disease?

    While anyone can develop sarcoidosis, factors that may increase your risk include:

    • Age and sex. Sarcoidosis can occur at any age, but often occurs between the ages of 20 and 60 years. Women are slightly more likely to develop the disease.
    • Race. People of African descent and those of Northern European descent have a higher incidence of sarcoidosis. African-Americans are more likely to have involvement of other organs along with the lungs.
    • Family history. If someone in your family has had sarcoidosis, you're more likely to develop the disease.

    Sarcoidosis information sourced from The Mayo Clinic.

    Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The material on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as medical advice. 

  • What are the potential complications of Sarcoidosis?

    Sometimes sarcoidosis causes long-term problems.


    Lungs. 

    Untreated pulmonary sarcoidosis can lead to permanent scarring in your lungs (pulmonary fibrosis), making it difficult to breathe and sometimes causing pulmonary hypertension.


    Eyes. 

    Inflammation can affect almost any part of your eye and may cause damage to the retina, which can eventually cause blindness. Rarely, sarcoidosis also can cause cataracts and glaucoma.


    Kidneys. 

    Sarcoidosis can affect how your body handles calcium, which can lead to kidney stones and reduce kidney function. Rarely, this can lead to kidney failure.


    Heart. 

    Cardiac sarcoidosis results in granulomas in your heart that can disrupt heart rhythm, blood flow and normal heart function. In rare instances, this may lead to death.


    Nervous system. 

    A small number of people with sarcoidosis develop problems related to the central nervous system when granulomas form in the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation in the facial nerves, for example, can cause facial paralysis.



    Sarcoidosis information sourced from The Mayo Clinic.

    Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The material on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be taken as medical advice. 

  • What is Advanced Sarcoidosis?

    Patients suffering from advanced sarcoidosis include those with chronic disease (active disease for more than 2-5 years) who:

    • have worsening disease symptoms despite treatment (usually more than 10 mg corticosteroids and other therapeutic options); or
    • still required treatment in the past year whether they experienced symptoms or not.

    Approximately 5-10% of all patients diagnosed will suffer from advanced sarcoidosis. While several treatments have been proposed for these individuals, including recommendations based on the involved organs, the evidence available to guide doctors in their treatment decisions are limited. As a result, physicians try to balance the need for various therapies at varying doses with side effects and danger of disease progression. Beyond symptoms directly related to inflammation, advanced patients also often contend with fatigue, pain, cognitive failure, small fiber neuropathy, exercise limitation, depression and other comorbidities (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.), which often result as side effects from current commonly used treatments.

Help Us Help Others

Donate to Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness


We rely on donations and funds raised through events to do the work we do. You can help us change the lives of sarcoidosis sufferers and their loved ones by donating today!



What sets Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness apart from other organizations is that our donations and fundraising funds go directly to benefiting the people we serve and producing educational material—not to the Board. No one from our Board of Directors gets paid, and all of our staff are VOLUNTEERS!!


Every cent of your donation goes to helping our team spread awareness to the community, set up support group meetings, coordinate with local pharmacies to deliver vital medicines to sarcoidosis sufferers, and more.

Donate $25+ and receive one of these shirts of your choosing!

Click Here to Donate Now

Get In Touch

Contact Us

Phone: (469) 630-2960
Email: info@asawareness.org

For Volunteer Inquiries:

If you would like to volunteer with Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness, please click the button below and follow the instructions to send us your information.

Volunteer Inquiry

For Financial Assistance Requests:

If you are suffering from sarcoidosis and need financial or medication copay assistance, please click the button below and follow the instructions to send us your information.

Financial Assistance Request

Mission Snowflake Smiles:

If you have been diagnosed with sarcoidosis, please click the button below and follow the instructions to send us your information to receive free dental care.

Financial Assistance Request

Click here to find us on the GuideStar directory of nonprofits.

Find Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness on GuideStar.org

We're Here for You

Support Group Meetings


We provide a Support Group Meeting on the 2nd Saturday of each month at Methodist Hospital in Richardson, Texas, 10am-11am.



Please join us if you or a loved one are looking for a safe, supportive community to discuss your battle with Sarcoidosis.

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Partners in the Fight

Our Ambassador

We are proud to have Justin Hardee, NFL athlete playing for the New York Jets, as an Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness Ambassador.


Justin knows the struggles that Sarcoidosis patients and their families face while battling the disease, since Justin's mother, Estella, battled Sarcoidosis for 15 years. Estella passed away December 12, 2013 at the young age of 55.


Justin's greatest motivation has and will always be his mom, both on and off the football field. Looking for a way to memorialize her, and to provide assistance to patients and families in similar situations, Justin teamed up with Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness to establish The Estella Perryman Fund in her honor.


The fund, in partnership with Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness, has increased awareness and provided opportunities for Snowflakes in need of assistance. We are so grateful to have Justin join us in the fight against Sarcoidosis.

Our Sponsors

If you are interested in becoming an Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness sponsor, please contact us today.


A Day for Change

National Sarcoidosis Day

National Sarcoidosis Day is celebrated annually on April 13th across the U.S. The goal of National Sarcoidosis Day is to spread awareness of the debilitating disease, educating those who are unaware of sarcoidosis, and raising funds for research and patient support. Check our Facebook page often to see what Adams Sarcoidosis Awareness and other organizations are doing to celebrate National Sarcoidosis Day!

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Look for the Helpers...

More Sarcoidosis Resources

  • Online Resources

    Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research

    www.stopsarcoidosis.org


    Bernie Mac Foundation

    www.berniemacfoundation.org


    World Association of Sarcoidosis and other Granulomatous Disorders 

    www.wasog.org

  • Hospitals and Research Facilities - USA

    Baylor College of Medicine

    Houston, Texas

    713-798-2400


    Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas

    Dallas, Texas

    214-820-6856


    Boston Medical Center

    Boston, Massachusetts

    617-414-3479


    Brigham and Women’s Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts

    617-732-9894


    Center for Asthma and Immune Lung Disease

    Hawthorne, New Jersey

    973-790-4111


    Cleveland Clinic Florida

    Weston, Florida

    954-659-5450


    Duke University

    Raleigh, North Carolina

    919-862-5520


    East Carolina University

    Greenville, North Carolina

    252-744-1600


    Emory University

    Atlanta, Georgia

    404-778-3261


    Henry Ford Hospital

    Detroit, Michigan

    313-916-2421


    Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

    New York, New York

    212-241-5656


    iNova Fairfax Hospital

    Falls Church, Virginia

    703-776-3281


    Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo

    Buffalo, New York

    716-961-9900


    Johns Hopkins University

    Baltimore, Maryland

    410-550-5864


    Louisiana State University Health Science Center

    Shreveport, Louisiana

    318-675-5955


    Loyola University Medical Center

    Chicago, Illinois

    888-584-7888


    Mayo Clinic

    Rochester, Minnesota

    507-266-0415


    MedStar Washington Hospital

    Washington, DC

    202-877-4698


    North Point Pulmonary Associates

    Cumming, Georgia

    770-343-8760


    NYU Langone Health

    New York, New York

    212-263-7951


    Ohio State University

    Columbus, Ohio

    614-293-4925


    Rochester Regional Health

    Rochester, New York

    585-442-5320


    Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School/University Hospital

    Newark, New Jersey

    973-972-6111


    Scripps Clinic

    La Jolla, California

    858-824-5073


    Spectrum Health

    Grand Rapids, Michigan

    616-267-8244


    Stanford Multidisciplinary Sarcoidosis Program

    Stanford, California

    650-724-4942


    SUNY Upstate Medical University

    Syracuse, New York

    315-464-3835


    Temple Lung Center

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    215-707-8129


    Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    215-955-5161


    University of Alabama

    Birmingham, Alabama

    205-996-5864


    University of Arizona at Banner University Medicine Lung Institute

    Phoenix, Arizona

    602-521-3400


    University of Arizona ILD Program

    Tucson, Arizona

    520-694-8888


    University of California Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, California

    310-825-8061


    University of Chicago

    Chicago, Illinois

    773-702-9660


    University of Florida

    Gainesville, Florida

    352-265-0139


    University of Kansas Hospital

    Kansas City, Kansas

    913-588-7204


    University of Miami

    Miami, Florida

    305-243-2568


    University of Michigan

    Ann Arbor, Michigan

    888-287-1084


    University of North Carolina

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    919-843-9938


    University of Oklahoma

    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

    405-271-7001


    University of Rochester Medical Center

    Rochester, New York

    585-273-3760


    University of South Florida

    Tampa, Florida

    813-844-8371


    University of Tennessee Health Science Center

    Memphis, Tennessee

    901-758-7888


    University of Texas Southwestern MC, and Parkland Health & Hospital System

    Dallas, Texas

    214-648-3426


    University of Texas Health Science Center Houston

    Houston, Texas

    713-704-4300


    University of Utah

    Salt Lake City, Utah

    801-581-5943


    University of Virginia

    Charlottesville, Virginia

    434-924-5219


    Vanderbilt University

    Nashville, Tennessee

    615-936-0060

  • Hospitals and Research Facilities - International

    Australia

    Dr. Roger Allen Pty Ltd. – Brisbane, Australia


    Belgium

    University Hospital Leuven – Brabant, Belgium


    Canada

    Mount Sinai Hospital – Toronto, Canada


    China

    Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital – Shanghai, China


    Denmark

    Aarhus University Hospital – Aarhus, Denmark


    Germany

    Thoraxklinik at Heidelberg University Hospital – Heidelberg, Germany

    University Medical Center Goettingen – Göttingen, Germany


    Greece

    Corfu General Hospital – Corfu, Greece

    Hospital for the Diseases of the Chest – Athens, Greece


    Japan

    Hiroshima University – Hiroshima, Japan

    Nippon Medical School – Tokyo, Japan

    Tokyo Medical and Dental University – Tokyo, Japan


    India

    Metro Centre for Respiratory Diseases – Noida, India


    Italy

    University of Padova– Padova, Italy

    B. Morgagni Hospital– Forli, Italy


    Netherlands

    Catharina Hospital – Noord Brabant, Netherlands

    ETZ Tilburg – Tilburg, Netherlands

    Rijnstate Hospital Arnhem – Gelderland, Netherlands

    University Medical Center Utrecht – Utrecht, Netherlands

    Waterland Ziekenhuis – Noord Holland, Netherlands

    Zuyderland Medical Center – Heerlen, Netherlands


    Spain

    Hospital Clinic – Barcelona, Spain


    Poland

    Medical University of Lodz – Lodz, Poland


    Portugal

    Centro Hospitalar São João – São João, Portugal


    Turkey

    Istinye University LIV Hospital – Istanbul, Turkey


    United Kingdom

    Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust – East Yorkshire, United Kingdom

    Centre for Neurosarcoidosis – London, United Kingdom

    Manchester University NHS Trust Foundation – Manchester, United Kingdom

    Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    Oxford Center for Respiratory Medicine – Oxford, United Kingdom

    University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust Foundation – Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Antrium Area Hospital – Ireland, United Kingdom

    University Hospital Aintree – Liverpool, United Kingdom

    University Hospital London – London, United Kingdom

    Royal Papworth Hospital – Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom

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