Welcome to Tamisha Carter's Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma Page!

Thank you for visiting my personal fundraising page to support this Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma event!

Thank you for visiting my personal fundraising page to support this Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma event!

In May of 2022 I was diagnosed with limited scleroderma. To say that moment was life changing is an understatement! The changes that I experience everyday are tough but not tougher than me! I continue to adapt and educate myself on this lesser known auto immune disease.

What is scleroderma? Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease characterized by an overproduction of collagen. Scleroderma can affect your skin, connective tissue and internal organs (kidneys, heart and lungs)

Who is affected? Scleroderma is more common in adults ages 30-50. 

80% of those diagnosed are female and it's more common in African Americans.

How does scleroderma affect ME?, Joint pain, chronic fatigue, telangectasia (red spots on my face and now my chest), SOB when taking the stairs, walking on an incline or walking too fast, Raynauds (decreased circulation in my hands), new skin lightening around the edges of my scalp. 

My GI system is a hot mess to say the least lol. Random nausea and GERD. I also have a condition called Esophageal Aperistalsis which basically means that the muscles in my esophagus don’t contract to push the food down when I swallow. No esophageal muscle contraction equals choking on everything that you eat! Fortunately there is an AMAZING medication called Mestinon that stimulates stronger contraction of the esophageal muscles. This medication is literally a life saver!

Many people with scleroderma become oxygen dependent. Many also experience skin tightening due to the overproduction of collagen. Their skin becomes tight and shiny and the skin can break if it gets too tight which leads to open wounds. 

My therapist explained it best. Scleroderma, for many is an invisible disease. INVISIBLE. 

Why? For people like me who the majority of our symptoms are internal we appear to be ok. You may see someone taking the elevator instead of the stairs and think they’re being lazy because they look normal and healthy. Nope! If I take the stairs up I will have to stop numerous times to catch my breath.

You can’t see my GI system wrecking havoc so to the outside world I appear to be good. 

I hope this information brings a little bit of a better understanding to you about scleroderma. 

Your support means so much. Donating through this site is quick, easy, and secure, and it’s the most effective way to help me raise funds that directly support the National Scleroderma Foundation’s mission to advance medical research, promote disease awareness, and provide support and education to people with scleroderma, their families, and support networks. To make a donation, simply click “Donate” and complete the form.

Want to get more involved? You can also register and join my team to fundraise alongside me!

I truly appreciate your generosity and encouragement. Please consider sharing this page with friends and family who might also want to make a difference.

Together, we can raise awareness, support those living with scleroderma, and bring us one step closer to finding a cure.