Sclero-what?

Last year, the day before the Northern Utah Stepping Out for Scleroderma 5K, I was told we were going to have a "casual Friday" where we could wear jeans & USU shirts. So I show up in my jeans and an Aggie shirt. When I walked in I noticed my co-workers wearing a light blue shirt, which I thought was odd since USU is dark blue, but I didn't really think anything of it until I got to my station, and there was a card and this T-shirt sitting at my station. All my co-workers were wearing them. Not gonna lie, I teared up a bit. It was pretty awesome that they would do that. We had quite a few people ask about it, which was awesome, because it's just another opportunity to spread awareness (plus let the members know that I don't actually have an eating disorder, and that I am not just naturally awkward in my stance!) It has been a hard few years dealing with this disease, but the one constant outside of my home has been work. My co-workers have been amazi...

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to my friend, and I realized that it has been 2 years since this all started. So crazy! Anyway 2013 was a very interesting year. It started out with the freezing cold temperatures. I think in all the years that I've been here in Logan, I've never experienced such freezing temps. You'd think where I'm from Wyoming, I'd basically be immune to that, but no way. It sucked. It sucked pretty bad too because in the mornings at work I have to go to the ATM and get the deposits from the day before. Even just being out there for that five minutes just about killed me! My hands would just hurt, and it would take forever for them to thaw out and become somewhat useable again. So there was that. The pain also continued. My joints became more and more stiff, and my fingers became swollen and more stiff as well. I also noticed a decline in what I was able to do for myself. At the beginning of the year I was having a bit of trouble reaching d...

Another reason I started this blog was so that I could write down small acts of kindness that I've received. I have worked at my job for over 3.5 years now, and I've gotten to know quite a few of our members. I know the majority by name, and a lot of times can guess what they want to do. A few months back I was talking with my manager and he mentioned that he's had quite a few members ask if I was doing okay. My response was, "Really? That's so embarrassing." Now, you have to remember that I don't want this thing I'm dealing with to be something that's noticeable, or affect my ability to do my job, but obviously there are some things that I just can't control, and there have been some things that have had to change. Plus, when you where gloves all the time, people really notice. Anyway, I didn't really believe him when he told me that. There have only been a few members that come in that I've told there was something wrong with me. ...