One year after that (December 4, 1996) I scheduled an appt. to see the doctor because my step-father noticed I was able to lift my leg no higher then about two feet. He also noticed that I was getting weak and didn't want to go out with my friends on the weekends anymore, and I just didn't want to be around or do anything with anyone anymore. My step-father said to my mother," There is something wrong with her she hardly has enough energy to eat or go do things with her friends anymore. We should take her to see the doctor. Before I had to go see the doctor I had an appt. with the orthodontist. I was getting my normal check up when my orthodontic doctor noticed that my teeth weren't in the some place as they were when they checked them the last time. They were way off. So he took X-rays and did some other little test and called my parents into his office and said that he thinks that I have scleroderma and that I better go have this checked out at the family doctor. As my step-father told him that he was noticing that I was getting weak and not eatting that he planned on taking me to the doctor here soon. Well my mother, step-father and I went home, and called our doctor to tell him what the orthodontist had just told us. The doctor scheduled an appt. for us to go see him, so we waited till that day came.

In the mean time while we were waiting we had watched the movie called "FOR HOPE" by Bob Saget. It dealt with his sister having scleroderma and what their family went through. When that day
came to go to see the doctor we went in and waited to be called back. Finally we were called back. We met the doctor and talked a little bit and the doctor decided to do a few test on me to see if it was true that I had this disease. Then came back and told my parents that there is no doubt
that he thinks I have this, but he would like it if I could go down to the Mayo Clinic to get a second opinion for another specilist down there. So from there we scedualed an appt. to see a doctor at the Mayo. Then we drove down there on the day before my appt. and stayed in a motel. That next day we got up and got ready to go see the doctor. We got there and had to wait an hour before I got called back. Time, all this takes time, I say to myself as we walk back to my room. As we sit in the room and now wait for th doctor I ask myself, why? Why do I have to be the one to get this? What did I do wrong? As I sit there asking myself all these questions,and also sit there and think about my biological father that had died five years before and ask is he the one who gave this to me( He died of Lupus in 1990).The doctor comes in and introduces herself. She looks at me and looks at my parent then looks back at me and says, " Yes, I am most certain that she has scleroderma." So she sent us on our way with nothing else to say, but "There will one day be a cure." As we leave the building my mom and I look at one another and start to cry. " Why mom, why do I have to die? I didn't do anything wrong did I?" We go back to our motel and get some money then we go out to spend a little money. As we return back to our motel to go to bed, I sit in the chair by the elevator waiting while I try and catch my breath. The next morning we get up and get ready to return home. As we drive home I try to take in all the scenery that I can so I can remember what that day was like knowing that I was diagnosed with an uncurable disease.

It is now two years later and I am doing quite well I graduate this year, and plan to go on to college in one year after I work a little to make some money for college. Right now I work as a Nursing Assistant in a nursing home. I have all the things I have ever wanted and living happly and proud that I am still here to tell my story. Oh, yeah the kids at school now know what's going on and they have been treating me like I don't even have my blueish purple fingers any more. Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story.

Theresa Harrah - email rtklever@willmar.com

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