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Christina N: CREST Scleroderma

Ireland

Hi, my name is Christina and I am thirty-six years old. My story is about my struggle with every day life. I have two children, a boy age fifteen and a girl age ten. They are the main focus in my life, as well as James, my partner, whom I love very much.

About three years ago I was diagnosed with Raynaud's and CREST. Then the doctor told me I only had Raynaud's. Two years later I was told I have Scleroderma with CREST and arthritis.

My daily life is a strain on my family, but they never complain. Not once have they moaned to me about the changes we have had to make. My local doctor is very good to us in every possible way, but the main doctor that I see in the hospital every six months is hopeless. She thinks she knows all there is to know about me, but not once has she asked me if I was okay. She makes me feel like she just wants to let me know that she is the top doctor and I am a nothing.

In March of this year I went for my regular checkup and this time I saw a different doctor who listened to everything I had to say. After an hour or so she had to see her boss. After a while they both came back to see me and told me I had the onset of CREST. I was dumbfounded by that.

I never got to thank the young lady who went out of her way to see that I got sorted out. And I still have no real information except for what I have learned on the Internet.

Every day I struggle to cope with my body wanting to do its own thing and knowing that it cannot. It is a lot to take. But I am trying every day. I try but then I find something else I cannot do, but I am not giving up and I hope I never will. God bless you all.

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ISN Artist: Sherrill Knaggs (In Loving Memory)

Sherrill Knaggs, ISN Artist, created the digital photo to illustrate the story on this page. Sherrill lived in New Zealand. Her story was featured in ISN's book, Voices of Scleroderma Volume 2.

ISN Story Editor: Judith Thompson Devlin

Judith Thompson Devlin is the ISN Story Editor for this story. She is also lead editor of the ISN's wonderful Voices of Scleroderma book series!

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