Columns

As Christmas approaches, I always become rather nostalgic. It marks the end of another year, and despite trying not to, I tend to look back to the same time last year and note how my health has further declined thanks to scleroderma. This process always begins…

The holidays are the most joyful time of the year for many. Surrounded by loved ones, it’s a time for making new memories, eating delicious food, and focusing on all the happy feelings stored within. There’s a cheerful buzz in the air from November to January that warms…

Systemic scleroderma is a rare disease. According to the Cleveland Clinic, its annual incidence is only about 20 cases per 1 million adults in the United States.  I have experienced many medical professionals who acknowledge they have heard of scleroderma, but know…

While scrolling through my Facebook page the other day, I came across someone’s post that read, “If you had to wear a warning label, what would yours read?” I thought quite hard about the question, because as someone who lives with scleroderma,…

There is a certain type of person I have encountered on my scleroderma journey. These individuals just cannot control their compulsion to share ideas about why I have scleroderma. Unfortunately, they annoyingly continue to pop up occasionally in my life with their theories…

Asking someone for a favor can be an intimidating moment. As humans, we enjoy the satisfaction of being able to independently handle the different things life throws our way, and we take pride in the things we’re able to accomplish on our own. Even if life hinders us…

With the passing of Halloween last week and my mind turning to all things nightmarish, I have noticed that living  with systemic scleroderma could be referred to as a “horror movie.” This particular Halloween, scleroderma didn’t fail me in terms of providing its own ugly…

I’ve always been a highly sensitive person, even prior to getting scleroderma. So, I’m not a big movie fan, as I get distressed at the violent, misogynist, and twisted thinking that seems to go into the production of many of the cinematic offerings available these days.

For many years now society has had an influence on setting standards women are expected to abide by. Cooking, cleaning, childbearing, and cuteness are a few fundamental C’s when being scoped out by a potential mate. There’s a predestined mentality programmed into our minds, and despite the evolution…

Scleroderma is often a progressive disease, unless someone is fortunate enough to go into remission. For me, remission is but a distant dream. I have even experienced a progression in a number of my symptoms as of late. Particularly, I’ve had increased…