Pasquale Ferretti’s Story
Twenty-five years ago, an unwelcome visitor barged in on me. This visitor became an obnoxious pest that made my life miserable. I experienced literal headaches as a result. I soon discovered that the intruder proved to be a thief. My peace of mind, independence, and health were stolen.
Why wouldn’t I boot this interloper out? The answer lies in the fact that it was not possible. You see, the unwelcome “guest” goes by the name, scleroderma. It is a disease that cannot be erased.
Scleroderma took many things from me. It also brought me a number of things: pain, stiffness, numbness, choking episodes, and other unpleasant effects. It proved to be a relentless force that wore me down mentally and physically. I naturally became discouraged and frustrated by its onslaught. I was powerless!
In early 1981, Dr. Paul Wenig, D.O. entered the equation. He was new to Botsford hospital. In fact, I was his very first patient there. After he examined and tested me, Dr. Wenig confirmed my diagnosis. He stated that while scleroderma was no picnic, there were things I could do to help the situation. He suggested I join a support group and utilize available resources. He gave me hope by telling me that the disease affects various people in different ways…it wasn’t necessarily a death sentence.
Visits to support groups and physical therapy helped me restore confidence. In addition, conversations with family, friends, and clergy led me to relax. Now stress became less of a factor. This process took several months to get rolling.
I soon developed a routine that brought positive results. I suggest that scleroderma patients establish a plan of action as soon as possible.
- Talk to your loved ones.
- Meet others with the disease.
- Exercise (even though difficult at times)
- Rest…listen to your body.
- Never quit, giving up is not an option!
- Visit physicians regularly. New treatments can help control problems.
Realize that coping with a catastrophic illness is a facet of life that some of us must face. A quarter century of experience in resisting scleroderma makes me an expert. I view myself as a survivor, not a victim. Sometimes I forget I even have scleroderma. I work hard. Life is still good! |
