This Mother’s Day, let’s celebrate all the strength and love of the moms in the scleroderma community—like Madison (dx 2024), a mother of five who is living with scleroderma.
“Scleroderma research is important to me because as a mother, I want to make sure I am here for them throughout their lives,” she says.
Madison’s journey with scleroderma began with symptoms that she couldn’t ignore. “My first symptom was Raynaud’s. I would have this painful tingling sensation in my hands and feet, and my extremities would turn white and I had no feeling in them,” she recalls. “Another symptom that I experienced was swelling in my hands, and I wasn’t able to bend my fingers since my skin felt like it was tight. My hands felt like blown up balloons.”
The impact of those symptoms soon extended into her work and daily routine. “As a phlebotomist, I work heavily with my hands,” she says. “While working with patients, it has been difficult at times to maneuver but I try to not let it show so my patients can feel at ease.”
“I’ve also learned that some days I have limitations that I have to abide by,” Madison explains. “I cannot force my body to go the extra mile anymore, when I’m feeling the burning in my muscles and the stiffness in my joints, I listen and respond to my body’s need for rest.”
These days, Madison is a passionate advocate for scleroderma research. “I want to be able to understand the etiology of this disease, whether it be hereditary or acquired,” she says. “Research gives me peace of mind on knowing what to expect.”
We’re grateful to Madison for sharing her story. Thank you to all the moms who join us in the search for a cure to this challenging disease. Happy Mother’s Day! 💙
