It’s important to give of yourself and reach out to others.  You have the power to lift them up spiritually and help without being prompted to do so.  How often do you have the pleasure of doing this?  Do you even think to invest the time to help someone share their story in hopes of striking a chord with others?

That’s what we’re doing here with a personal story about Agnes.

See, we routinely stumble across touching stories about all kinds of people and their battles and victories.  What was most striking about today’s story (at least for me) were the following blurbs:

I recall problems when going out in the sun as it made me feel nauseous; of wearing broad-brimmed hats to shield from the sun.  I also recalls the swelling, the intense and continuous pain.  Not a day went by that I wasn’t in extreme physical pain.

Can you imagine constant pain day in, day out?  Days that you can’t enjoy the warmth and brightness of the sun?

How about the closing statement in Agnes’ testimonial:

Presently, I am in desperate need for a replacement kidney – blood group O will do just fine.

At 54+ years of age she didn’t picture this quality of life for herself.  She didn’t ask to have scleroderma. But she is asking for people to listen.

She would urge you to share her story and tell others that more awareness, funding, regulation and the like need to be injected into this neglected topic.

How can you help?

Start by reading her message located here and then return to us here to donate to the First Giving page.  Together let’s help fund and find a cure for scleroderma.

Image: kkoshy