Mona Eisenberg of Lexington, Ky., knows if she goes grocery shopping, she'll be done for the day. In her struggle against systemic lupus erythematosus, which has no cure, she has to pick her battles.

For years, Eisenberg fought those battles without government assistance. But as she reached her 50s, her symptoms worsened and full-time work turned part-time. Some days, just picking up a tissue left her exhausted.

Read the complete story(Some news sites require registration)