My Dad, Jim:

My dad was finally diagnosed with Scleroderma after years and years of pain and suffering and doctors. He was told for 15 years that he was imagining the pain in his back and legs. Then he was misdiagnosed as a diabetic for about 3 years. He was sent to a specialist by our family doctors who told him he didn't know what was wrong with my dad, he knew it wasn't diabetes, but if the medicine (diabetic pill) was helping to keep taking it. My dad fired him, our family doctors picked a specialist in Philadelphia. In one visit this specialist has a strong feeling, admitted him for tests within the week, he was diagnosed with Scleroderma.

He had the rash, he had hardening of the skin, he had great difficulty walking, pain and soreness, he also had difficulty breathing. In the last stages he was on 15-20 liters of oxygen per minute (at home). Through it all he kept his humor and high spirit of faith that all would happen by God's Will. He lived until he was just 43 years old. He was admitted to the hospital for tests to see how far the disease had progressed in the past year or so. They were draining excess fluid buildup from his legs and a blood clot was dislodged and went to his heart. God called him quietly, painlessly home on June 1, 1977, just short of one month past his 43rd birthday (almost 3 years after his diagnosis of Scleroderma - internal and external). He left a loving, caring wife of almost 21 years behind.

My mom cared for dad until he went into the hospital where he died. My mom and dad spent the last year of his life together in the dining room (mom on a mattress on the floor, dad on the couch as he could no longer lay down), as he could no longer walk to his bedroom on the second floor. He was on oxygen for that year (just 2 weeks short of 1 year of disability retirement). She did all she could to make him feel comfortable and loved and cared for all his needs physically and medically. They had 6 children at home. He worried about leaving my mom with 6 children.

To all of those suffering from this disease I offer my prayers and support. Remember that life is short for all of us. We all carry different crosses, some harder and heavier than others. You are not alone. Keep the faith and let God carry you through as my parents did. God made this difficult journey a little easier because we had faith that His Will would be done.

Submitted by, Jim's loving daughter, Kathy