Lucio III: Lupus diagnosis won’t affect work, campaign

State Representative Eddie Lucio III is shown during a press conference Thursday at the Texas Department of State Health Services, where he announced that he was diagnosed with lupus. (Staff photo by Jerry Rodriguez)

By JERRY RODRIGUEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

At a press conference held inside the Texas Department of State Health Services in Harlingen on Thursday, District 38 State Representative Eddie Lucio III said he will continue to seek reelection despite contracting lupus.

The representative said the purpose of the press conference was about more than just announcing that he was diagnosed with lupus eight weeks ago, but to raise awareness about the autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks healthy tissue.

Rep. Lucio, who said he was first diagnosed eight weeks ago, said the disease was targeting his joints. “Even picking up my daughter and putting her in her car seat was a task,” he said while explaining the difficulties he had to overcome.

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