Chronic Crusaders
Real journeys. Shared strength.
Two Teachers, Two Diagnoses: Carol & Kay’s Shared Journey with Scleroderma Sometimes life brings together people in unexpected ways. For Carol and Kay, their connection began in the classroom—two dedicated teachers working side by side, sharing laughter, teamwork, and a passion for helping students thrive. Years later, that bond would take on a deeper meaning …
The Chronic Crusaders recently traveled to Dexter, Michigan—a beautiful town just outside Ann Arbor—to sit down with Carol, a former special education teacher, who shared her powerful journey living with scleroderma. From Diagnosis to Resilience Carol first noticed symptoms in her hands and feet nearly nine years ago. Within six months, she was diagnosed with …
In 2006, while living in Tucson, Arizona and caring for our one-year-old son, I began noticing painful ulcers on my red, swollen, and tight fingertips. The pain grew unbearable, and after nearly six months of uncertainty, I was diagnosed with scleroderma in 2007. I could hardly pronounce the word, let alone understand what it meant—but …
Late on a Tuesday afternoon in December, I told my employee the good news, “We got you a raise!” She gave me a cold stare and turned her chair and back to my face. I walked away. Every day at my new job as manager of a toxic department jolted my nervous system and stress …
“We couldn’t find anything wrong with you. Your lab work is normal. Set up an appointment to come back in six months.” I remember standing outside my office building where I had gone to take the doctor’s call in private. I just stood there, frozen in time, feeling lost and in a void. After months …
A few months ago, I attended a funeral of a friend from my past. Shockingly, she passed away suddenly from a heart attack. Everyone who knew her was in a state of shock. In their disbelief, I heard things like, “I don’t understand. She always took care of herself.” “This is the last person I …
Can I continue working with a chronic illness? When you are newly diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or any chronic illness, many things change in your life. First of all, you probably aren’t feeling your best. There are doctor appointments, insurance companies to call, and medical tests to complete. You may be trying new medications …
A moment of awkward silence followed as Nadia asked, “Who has gone to therapy (mental health) since their diagnosis?” Nadia was hosting a large Zoom meeting of people who suffer with a debilitating autoimmune disease., this isn’t what she expected. The Zoom Nadia had just admitted that since her diagnosis, she had started to work …
A recent study found that spiritual well-being emerged as the strongest statistical contributor to life satisfaction. The research findings were consistent with other studies, which found that Spiritual well-being appears as a protective factor for quality of life in people with cancer. Research involving people with Systemic Sclerosis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and skin disorders suggested …
It felt wrung out and hung to dry. My arms and legs felt like I was walking through cement. Even though I had slept seven hours and woken up at 6:00 AM but by 9:00 AM, I wanted to go back to bed. I felt awful, and the thought of facing my day and doing …
