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Mariposa: Progressive Systemic Sclerosis

Italy

Hello everyone. I am a twenty-eight-year-old girl and I have had rheumatic problems for a good ten years.

With the course of the years my health became worse until seven years ago. I was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Afterwards, not even a year later, Raynaud's Syndrome and then scleroderma.

I have finger ulcers, also a second degree esophagitis, but I should say that about a year ago it started receding thanks to the doctors that follow my case.

I am from Bari, Italy, and every four months I go to Florence, Italy to see Professor Marco Matucci Cerinic. I went to him thanks to my mother, who heard about him on TV. I have to thank this professor, because I have been in treatment for a year, and the illness is stopping. They tell me I am fine, and I feel fine. I can keep going.

I must admit I have been scared of not being able to enjoy life to the fullest, but I trust science. I also thank God for giving me a character that allows me to try and bring hope to other patients every time I was in the hospital.

I believe that recovering is torture if you are lonely with the illness. So the best thing to keep going is smiling!

To Contact the Author

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 Translator and Editor: Alba León

Alba León is the ISN Translator for this page. She is studying international relations in Mexico City.

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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