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Easter: Scleroderma

I have hope that my Lord will listen to my crying.

I am Iraqi and about sixteen years ago, I began my struggle with scleroderma. I had very good doctors in Iraq. They told me what would happen to me in the future.

Unfortunately, the bad circumstances in my country prevented our doctors from getting the latest medicines that could help to improve my status. So I came to Amman, Jordan in 1991 with my sister, Suzan, with the hope of getting a visa to any other country in which I could be treated, at least to minimize the amount of the pain I feel every minute of my life.

In my first years in Amman, I saw some doctors, but my health got worse with the medications they gave me, so I stopped taking them. Besides, the medicine also cost too much.

Now my whole body, especially my hands, has become hard like stone. I cannot eat anything, but soup. Even with soup, I have acid in my stomach, especially at night. My face has changed and I have lost a lot of weight. I know there is no treatment for this disease, and I know also I will never return back as I was before, unless by a miracle. All I want is to stop my pain.

For all the people with illnesses in this world, I am praying to get rid of their pain. I have hope that my Lord will listen to my crying and that He may do something to ease my pain.

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!

This Story is Featured in Voices of Scleroderma Volume 1

The story on this page is featured in the top-notch Voices of Scleroderma Volume 1 which features articles by top scleroderma experts, including Dr. Joseph Korn, as well as 100 true patient and caregiver stories from this website! The book delivers excellent information and support for scleroderma patients and caregivers. It's a great way to inform family and friends about scleroderma, too!

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