Sen. Sharon Runner

State Sen. Sharon Runner has once again been placed on the active lung transplant list due to a flare-up in her limited scleroderma. She will be working electronically from her home during the wait to minimize the possibility of contracting any other illnesses.

“After several lung infections, the doctors have put me on the lung transplant list,” Runner said in a prepared statement. “Because I am susceptible to infections, I will be working away from the office for the time being.

“While I will not physically be in the office, I will continue to serve the citizens of the Antelope Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley and the High Desert thanks to telephone, email and all forms of electronic communications. As always, my dedicated and experienced staff will continue to provide assistance with all state-related matters.

“Serving the public is an honor that I take seriously. I want to assure my constituents and colleagues that I will carry out my responsibilities with the same level of dedication they have come to expect.

“Given my overall good health, combined with my age, the doctors expect me to make a full recovery. And I look forward to continue the fight to protect Californians.”

Runner first sought placement on the list in February 2008, after revealing she had been dealing with the condition for more than 20 years. At the time, she was serving in the California State Assembly and while there, introduced legislation to bring attention to the problem.

She was recognized in November 2008 by the Scleroderma Foundation with the Janie S. Benner Memorial Spirit Award for her efforts to increase public awareness and support for research into the disease.

Limited scleroderma, or CREST syndrome, is an autoimmune condition affecting the body’s connective tissue. The purpose of the body’s immune system is to fight infection and disease; however, with limited scleroderma, the immune system attacks the healthy connective tissue as well. For more information, please visit the Scleroderma Foundation’s website at www.scleroderma.org.