Walk A Day in My Shoes

I have a challenge to present to those who are brave, bold and adventurous. I would like to invite you to walk a day in my shoes. You may be thinking, "How hard can that be, and what point would it serve?" My answer to these two questions is fairly simple, but I will break it down.

1. Depending on the day, it can be extremely hard. I believe wholeheartedly that it would be much more difficult than most would believe, especially from observing me from the outside. I do not look ill and seem fully functional to the onlooker.
2. The point would be to experience the physical and emotional feelings that I do on a regular basis and develop an understanding of what it is like. My pain and fear is very individual and can only be felt by me. You cannot see or feel my pain.

I have scleroderma, a rare and progressive autoimmune disease. Its trademark is the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues of the body. From a clinical standpoint, it is an incurable disease with multiple types, degrees and symptoms associated with it. From a human standpoint, it is much like a tornado due to its unpredictable nature. You cannot know for sure what path it will take or at what speed it will travel. It can leave its victims feeling alone, isolated and fearful.

The fact is that, unless you have walked a day in the shoes of a scleroderma patient, you cannot know what it is like. Since it is not possible to actually know what it is like, ask yourself what you can do to help. I would like to encourage and invite friends and family members of patients to consider the following:

• Become educated about the disease and its effects. There are many resources available online, at your local library and in bookstores. Do not be afraid to ask questions. The more knowledge you have, the more help and understanding you can offer.
• Be willing and able to be that much-needed sounding board. Just being a good listener is sometimes all a patient needs.
• Encourage your loved one to remain positive and help them to locate good resources for themselves, be it online reading, support groups, counseling and/or physical therapy.
• Ensure your loved one is seeing a rheumatologist regularly and is receiving the medical treatment they need in order to manage the disease.

Please see my full article link at http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/jjromero.