Home / Health / Mom's Rare Disease: A Race Against Time
Mom's Rare Disease: A Race Against Time
20 Jun
Summary
- A Florida woman battles diffuse systemic scleroderma, diagnosed after stress.
- The rare disease is incurable, life-threatening, and affects vital organs.
- She encourages others with skin changes to seek medical advice promptly.
Kristina Hamilton, a 43-year-old mother from Florida, is raising awareness about diffuse systemic scleroderma, a rare and life-threatening autoimmune disease diagnosed approximately four years ago. Initially dismissing symptoms like white fingers and gut issues as stress from her divorce, Hamilton eventually received the devastating diagnosis of an incurable condition.
Diffuse systemic scleroderma triggers an overproduction of collagen, affecting the skin, muscles, bones, internal organs, and blood vessels. With an estimated 100,000 cases globally, research is limited, and there is no known cure or timeline for its progression.
Hamilton, who remarried three years after her diagnosis, received a wish from the non-profit Wish Upon a Wedding, allowing her a special ceremony. She advises others experiencing changes in their skin or other early symptoms like joint pain to consult a doctor, advocating for embracing life despite a terminal diagnosis.
