Ever stop to think about what it would be like to walk in another’s shoes? Imagine living the life of someone rich and famous, someone that seems to have it all? It’s our nature to think that if we could be someone else, things would be better. Working with people living with a chronic disease however, can soon put things into perspective.

We all go through illness and pain, and most of the time it is acute, temporary and can be resolved in a short period of time; it is so different for those with chronic illness like scleroderma. This life-altering autoimmune disease knows no preference for race, ethnicity, sex, or age. It can be mild or severe in nature. In most cases, it causes overwhelming and debilitating fatigue. It can be unrelenting. It causes changes in relationships that can lead to isolation. Many patients can no longer work. There is no known cause, and the cure remains elusive.

June is scleroderma awareness month. It is estimated there are 30,000 people with scleroderma in New York, northern New Jersey and Connecticut; 300,000 in the U.S.; and more than 2.5 million world-wide. We need your help to raise awareness and advocate for those who live with the daily challenges of this disease. Visit www.SclerodermaAware.org and pledge to help spread the word.

Grandpa always said if you have your health, you have everything. I see now how true that statement really is.

Mary Beth Bobik-Kadylak

Director of Patient Education & Support

Scleroderma Foundation, Tri-State Chapter

Binghamton, NY