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Debra K: Daughter of Scleroderma Patient

I wish that there was something I could give to her from my healthy body.

It is heartbreaking to see the pain my mom suffers from this painful disease.I pray everyday that a cure comes. I wish that there was something I could give to her from my healthy body. If I could, I would do it in a heart-beat.

This terrible scleroderma disease started with eating problems.It then proceeded into circulation problems, with cold hands and feet.Her hands that would turn purple because of being so cold. Then years later, and as of today,she suffers from painful ulcers on her hands, fingers, legs, and feet.They have taken years and years to heal.They are still in the process of healing.

She was hospitalized. She was also in a wheelchair due to the excessive pain of the ulcers in her legs and feet.She had a homecare nurse for a couple of years.Now her ulcers are healing, but when one goes away,she gets another.Her pain is terrible.

She is such a trooper, though.She pushes onward and acts as if she is in no pain at all.But, her family knows better.

She is my hero. I wish for a cure every day.My biggest Christmas wish is not for presents, but for her to be all better.

To all that suffer from this, my heart goes out to you. You have strengthbigger than the world.

To Contact the Author

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!

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.

SCLERO.ORG was the world's leading nonprofit for trustworthy research, support, education and awareness for scleroderma and related illnesses from 1998 to 2021. It was a grassroots movement from the original Scleroderma from A to Z web site, which was founded by Shelley Ensz. We were a 501(c)(3) U.S.-based public charitable foundation. We closed this web site and our nonprofit agency in April 2021.