When I wrote my last column, I had no idea that my old dog Merlin was on the verge of dying. Despite having suffered from nasty arthritic hind legs for a while, he still had a good quality of life and was managing with pain…
We are nearly a week into June, our annual awareness month, which presents a spotlight opportunity for raising awareness about our rare disease and our day-to-day reality of living with scleroderma. The theme for this year’s Rare Disease Day — like last year’s — is research, so…
One of the many distressing aspects that scleroderma has brought to my life is my immune system’s inability to cope with any illness that comes my way. Part of the problem is that I take mycophenolate to help slow down the progress of my lung…
I feel strangely uncomfortable sharing my opinion in this particular column. I am conscious that there are many facets to the question of cannabis use, and differing opinions and ideas. There is much to say about its many benefits for the unwell and the questionable suppression…
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…
June 1 marks the start of Scleroderma Awareness Month, with World Scleroderma Day falling on June 29. This is our opportunity to raise awareness of this rare disease in all of its guises. We can spend the month fundraising for research or raising…
I recently had lunch at the casino with a dear friend. We had planned it for some time, it was in my online diary, and I was really pleased to wake up on the day feeling well enough to go. Lunch was delicious,…
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…
Living with a systemic, chronic, degenerative disease without a known cause or cure makes for a diary filled with medical appointments. Symptom management alone is a full-time job. I have a strict daily routine in place to minimize the severity of my ongoing symptoms. However, as every…
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…
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