Author Archives: Jessica Massengale

It’s 6 p.m. on a Sunday evening and I’m ready to eat dinner. It’s beneficial to eat early enough to allow food at least three hours to digest before lying down. My plate is served with everything already cut into small pieces. I grasp the fork at an…

Life is an enigma; a beautifully twisted maze that evolves daily around us. Some individuals have a pretty good idea of how to find their way through, while others are lost and wandering, hitting dead ends. When living with a debilitating chronic illness, it’s easy to feel lost in…

The internet can seem like an endless portal that is easy to get lost in. Almost every topic, no matter how rare or obscure, has an article, blog, or website to follow. It can be tricky to determine which resources are trustworthy and which ones are…

Motherhood is a unique, sacred journey experienced by women from many different walks of life. Some women beat incredible odds to become pregnant. On the other hand, some have to accept the fact that they may never undergo this journey. Individuals with scleroderma are right in the middle…

The body has an organ that helps regulate body temperature, helps the brain feel different sensations, and measures about 20 square feet when stretched out. Our skin is the largest organ of our body, and one of the most important. It keeps harmful germs and microbes out and…

Some people go through life miraculously dodging any form of illness or disease. They go to the doctor for their physical once a year and don’t return until the next. Contrarily, a portion of the population spends so much time in a doctor’s office that it starts to…

Aging is a beautiful journey that is viewed differently in every culture. Some cultures embrace the elderly and look up to them for knowledge and wisdom. Others may place their family in a nursing home because they don’t have the time to attend to them. An uncomfortable feeling lurks…

The very first step in the digestion process begins in the mouth. For someone with scleroderma, simply chewing food can be exhausting. Different disease factors affect one’s dental hygiene, but various steps can be taken to try to maintain a good environment within the oral cavity. Over 20 percent…

Spring cleaning is a good method to get rid of old clothes, memorabilia, and things that serve no purpose. Getting rid of old stuff can leave a person feeling less cluttered and mentally cleansed. Releasing the past can spark clarity and peace. When dealing with chronic illness,…

There are chances taken in life that can feel like pulling a lever on a slot machine. The outcome relies on a blind leap of faith, with fingers crossed for the best result. The same can be said of choosing a treatment plan for the course of your…