I was diagnosed with Scleroderma on January 2007.  I remember the day vividly.  I had a morning appointment to see a Rheumatologist.  It was an appt my Family Doctor recommended I pursue before writing me off and not returning my calls after 6 months of not being able to diagnose me.  I didn't know what to expect from the appt but I still wanted an answer to my slow but obvious physical changes.  He diagnosed me immediately with Scleroderma after hearing my symptoms and shaking my hand.  Scleroderma means hardened skin and is an autoimmune disorder that can affect physical appearance as well as organs.  He pointed out that the skin on my hands was begininning to harden which I hadn't noticed before.  Then the Dr followed up with news that there was no cure and the average lifespan for scleroderma patients did not typically exceed 5 years.  I couldn't fight the tears from falling and left shocked with the news that life as I knew it had come to an end. 

Ever since that day I've been trying to fight scleroderma though at times I was certain the end was near.  I've come a long way over the past year fighting tachycardia (fast heart rate), shortness of breath, skin hardening, inflamation, skin discoloration, raynaud's phenomenon (extreme sensitivity to cold and heat), constriction of my throat, insomnia, anemia, etc.  And though some symptoms have come and gone the experience still remains and I am thankful for that.  I dare say I value the experiences and friendships I make today more than I did before diagnosis.  My laughs are harder, my hugs are tighter, and my love is stronger.  And yes as luck would have it, I've met plenty of people that have lived a long time with scleroderma proving the theory wrong.

This is my first walk for Scleroderma and I am excited to participate. Every donation that is made no matter the amount is a big step towards finding a cure.  Please join me in fighting for the cause.