Columns

Scleroderma Awareness Month runs through the month of June, with June 29 designated as World Scleroderma Day. On June 1, I launched my Scleroderma Awareness Month 2017 “Patient Profiles” campaign. In this column, I hope to provide a résumé of the information shared so far, along with…

It’s two days before I have surgery as a scleroderma patient, and because I have endured one total knee replacement already, I unfortunately know what I am in for.  However, in the lead-up to the big day, I have had a visit from an…

Dear Caregivers, You are the glue that holds my life together, intricately filling in the cracks of emptiness. Your role in my life requires an alert sense of awareness, and I see myself in the reflection of your eyes, as you make my comfort your priority. This…

The first day of June marks the start of Scleroderma Awareness Month, and June 29 is World Scleroderma Day. Further to the theme of this year’s Rare Disease Day 2017 being “With Research, Possibilities Are Limitless,” I have made research the theme of my Scleroderma Awareness…

Everyone on the face of this Earth has gone through something that temporarily halts their life, similar to a “pause” button on a CD player. It could be something aggravating such as breaking a limb, or something stressful such as moving to another state. In those moments,…

I believe that there is a point when a scleroderma patient realizes that it is time to fully accept that they are unwell and commit to having the disease. Despite that this sounds like a one-way ticket to Depression City, it actually isn’t. The decision…

June is Scleroderma Awareness Month, with June 29 being World Scleroderma Day. Sadly, as patients we all know too well that every day is “scleroderma day.” As such, I want to highlight the importance of maximizing Scleroderma Awareness Month, and provide some ideas for how you can get involved,…

Many patients with scleroderma experience severe pain. Pain relief and management is a vital necessity for scleroderma patients. Especially because their pain can present itself in many formats, and at varying degrees. However, pain is often isolated within the patient, making it is invisible to others. Because of this, it is difficult…

It’s 9:30 p.m. on a Saturday night and I’m attempting to draw a perfect wing liner on my top eyelid, with my left-hand – even though I was born right-handed. I don’t use my right hand as much because, due to tight arms, it doesn’t reach my face. So, I’ve…

Writing about scleroderma is important. It helps to raise awareness, and with any luck, funding for research to help find a cure will follow. I believe that one of the most important sources of information comes from the patients themselves. There is nothing more real than reading…