Welcome to Dawn Cohn's Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma Page!

Thanks again for reading this. Im going for my 12th egd in a few weeks. Hopefully it works. Positivity all around. I started a new med voquenza for acid reflux, as well as cell cept. Hoping they work.

I got lucky with my side effects to this disease. Besides not being able to fully digest my food, some joint pain, not being able to sip out of a cup. Im otherwise " healthy."

I know a lot of people with my disease have it worse. So I'll take what I have thus far. The warm weather is a good thing with my Raynaud's, it helps with the blood flow.

As some of you may know i have been battling with Scleroderma for the past 5 years. One day at work I boosted a patient, and banged my finger. It didn't heal correctly which led to blood work and the dx of Scleroderma. For those of you who dont know what Scleroderma is. ( i had never heard of it prior to my dx) is an autoimmune disease that makes your body produce too much collagen — the protein that gives skin its structure. The extra collagen builds up in skin and sometimes in internal organs, causing them to harden and thicken. It can also affect your digestive system.  I hsve had 12 dilations ( stretching of my esophagus) as well as steroid injections just to try and eat properly. Raynard syndrome is a big issue as well. I have really awful circulation all year round. Especially in the winter. Living in New England ( Boston area) doesn't help. I wouldn't change it though. I have the best support team from my mother, husband and my kids.   Thanks for reading this. Please donate to help find a cure