Through Teal Colored Glasses – a Column by Jessica Massengale

New beginnings in life tend to bring a sense of hope and excitement. A new relationship can have a couple swooning over each other for the first few months, ... Read more

August 24, 2017August 23, 2017

How to Nurture Your Confidence

Columns, Through Teal Colored Glasses - a Column by Jessica Massengale

Confidence is defined as a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of their own abilities or qualities. It’s a bright light that shines from within and warms others ... Read more

August 17, 2017August 17, 2017

How Do Children Perceive the Disabled?

Columns, Through Teal Colored Glasses - a Column by Jessica Massengale

Children have a keen sense of awareness and understanding when it comes to those with a disability. They learn quickly, adapt to most situations, are not judgmental, and are ... Read more

August 10, 2017August 9, 2017

The Importance of Communicating with Caregivers

Columns, Through Teal Colored Glasses - a Column by Jessica Massengale

A portion of the human race embodies a longing in its heart to help the disadvantaged. One often can find them donating to charities, volunteering, or lending a hand ... Read more

August 3, 2017August 2, 2017

3 Moments When Scleroderma Broke Me

Columns, Through Teal Colored Glasses - a Column by Jessica Massengale

As I’ve adapted to a life of chronic illness, key moments have broken my soul. These moments have refocused my view about life by pushing me past the definition of ... Read more

July 20, 2017July 20, 2017

Why Are Scleroderma Patients so Stubborn?

Columns, Through Teal Colored Glasses - a Column by Jessica Massengale

A kaleidoscope of thoughts pass through our minds every second of the day. The unpredictable nature of a disease can change the way we think, rewiring our emotions and ... Read more

July 13, 2017July 13, 2017

The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Coping Through Social Media

Columns, Through Teal Colored Glasses - a Column by Jessica Massengale

Facebook recently announced it has reached 2 billion monthly users worldwide. This means that a quarter of the world is using Facebook. Social media has become one of the main platforms ... Read more

June 22, 2017June 22, 2017

What It Feels Like to Look Rare

Columns, Through Teal Colored Glasses - a Column by Jessica Massengale

According to the Census Bureau, about 30 million people in the United States walk with a cane, crutch, or wheelchair. What do you do when you see someone with ... Read more

June 8, 2017June 8, 2017

The Drawbacks of Staying Still with Scleroderma

Columns, Through Teal Colored Glasses - a Column by Jessica Massengale

What does the phrase “fighting for my life” mean? Often when someone is going through a struggle, one will hear them say, “I’m fighting for a chance to survive.” ... Read more

June 1, 2017June 1, 2017

An Open Letter to My Caregivers

Columns, Through Teal Colored Glasses - a Column by Jessica Massengale

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, ... Read more