Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. It's been a long year for me and my family. This year, I had to make a choice in my life to continue working in the trade as a sheet metal worker or to choose an alternative path to watch my son and daughter grow. My condition was getting worse and I knew it. With most of us suffering from this horrific disease, we will continue to get worse until hopefully we see a cure. I was following all the protocol that my doctor had prescribed however, the pain in my hands was intensifying and the hypertension in my heart was making me unable to lift heavy objects at work. As of September 1st, 2011, I filed for permanent disability and am officially RETIRED, but have not given up. I go for therapy for my hands and I can do more things with them. As of now its called maintenance, nothing is fixing me but just maintaining. As of January I met with a doctor in New York City who will be administering to me a new drug called IVIG. I honestly can not wait. Sorry it took so long for me to write but I've finally gotten to it.

Remember, live your life while you can, nobody understands what we go through, individuals living with scleroderma, but I do.

Happy Holidays!
God Speed.