LAPD Officer Seeks To Raise Awareness After Wife, Fellow Officer Dies From Rare Disease

REDONDO BEACH (CBSLA.com) — An LAPD officer is working to raise awareness about a rare disease that killed his wife, who was also an LAPD officer.

Marian Adams, wife, mother, and LAPD officer, was diagnosed with dermatomyositis in June. The inflammatory disease, marked by muscle weakness and a distinctive skin rash, progressed, triggering Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a condition in the lungs which prevents adequate oxygen from getting to the lungs and into the blood.

"I was totally blindsided by her disease," daughter Angela said. "When it got to the point where you couldn't speak with her or hear her, that's when it really set in how serious it was."

Adams was placed on a ventilator, and was paralyzed and sedated. A few weeks later, she passed away, at the age of 47.

"It's still painful to think about it every day," Marian's husband Glenn said. "I lost my soulmate, and she was everything to me."

Adams' family now wants to spread awareness of the disease, due to its high mortality rate.

"If we could raise some awareness and raise some funds, hopefully to help out other families and people who suffer from this, that would be incredible," daughter Amanda Ediger said.

Adams and his family are referring people to the ARDS Foundation's website. The foundation is a charitable organization that aims to provide support to victims, and families of victims, of ARDS. An estimated 150,000 reported cases arise each year in the US, while there is no specific treatment or cure.

The website can be accessed by clicking here.

Meanwhile, Marian's family continues to fight to cope with their loss.

"It's not fair that she did go. She had so much to offer; so much left to live."