Since the last fundraiser, I am a proud new home owner and a wife! My life continues to be blessed with love and support from friends and family. I will be participating in my third year of Stepping Out to Find a Cure. The event will be on Sunday, September 12^th at Williamland Park in Sacramento. You can register on my fundraising page and I will reserve a shirt for you or you can arrive at 8:00 am. 

 As some of you know I’m not very open with my symptoms. I try not to stress anyone with them unless it affects my daily routines or work. If you ask me how I’m feeling, I usually smile and say everything is okay even when my finger ulcers are bothering me and I’m awfully exhausted.  Surprisingly, my finger ulcers have been appearing during the warmer months. It usually occurs in the colder months and in stressful situations. About ten years ago, when I was first diagnosed with Scleroderma I sent in a request to the International Scleroderma Foundation about these painful nasty ulcers that keep developing on my fingertips. Overtime, I was able to find ways to prevent it but this year my body is changing and my tolerance level is lower. So with the help of my Rheumatologist Dr. Roberts, we are closing monitoring my symptoms. 

Systemic Scleroderma affects various organs in the body. One of my symptoms that I was recently diagnosed with is Bronchiectasis. Bronchiectasis is a disease where my lungs are not able to remove mucus in my airways as a result the bronchi loose the ability to move air in and out. Right now, the lower parts of my lungs are scarred. There is no cure for Bronchiectasis; luckily my doctors found it early and with proper care I can prevent more damage from occurring. My Pulmonologist, Dr. Absar is wonderful; he always seems to remember our conversations from every visit. Appointment updates on my lungs are usually upsetting but he does an amazing job to help me understand the disease more. On a happier note, I bet so many of you are excited to know that Terry and I are ready to become parents. My OBGYN, Dr. Snook has been very active in communicating with my other doctors about my health. For the well being of our future child, the doctors and I are observing how my body is doing without medications. I can definitely see the difference and noticed undeniably my lack of energy. Overall, the doctors think my body is handling very well. 

I’m really excited to see old friends and meet new people so I am having a fundraiser at my favorite restaurant in Suisun City called Sukhothai on Friday, August 13^th. There are flyers on my  facebook. Please print out the flyer and share it with your coworkers and family. I will be there from 11:00-3:00, I wish I could stay longer but Terry and I are going to attend a God Parenting workshop for our eighth God child Xaiver. We are so blessed! If you can not make it you can also donate on this fundraising page. Last year, you helped me raise $2,245!

Thank you again for taking the time and reading this. I know finances are tight so no pressure, I only ask if you could educate five other people (Pay It Forward) about how Scleroderma affects someone you care for that would really mean a lot to me. God Bless you and thank you for making me smile.

Love Always,

A heartfelt thank you to all of you who have supported me in my fundraising and to Lisa and Ken at Sukhothai and Eddie for the beautiful photos. Thank you!

If you google: “digital ulcers rosemarie” the first link is to the website (below) where I was searching for support and answers to the finger ulcers. This began my involvement with the Scleroderma community.