I've spent the past 10 years dealing with the symptoms of a terminal disease called scleroderma. My first symptoms began in December of 1997 and I was diagnosed in January of 1999. Scleroderma is closely related to rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis -- all autoimmune diseases that attack a person's own body. In my case, my body is producing too much collagen - the type of collagen one's body produces to form scar tissue. My arms, legs, torso, hands and face have all been affected to a great degree, limiting range of motion and causing tightness in all of these areas.

My form of the disease (diffuse systemic sclerosis) is usually fatal in most cases; 70 percent die in the first 10 years of the disease with 90 percent of those deaths happening in the first 5 years of onset. Mortality occurs when the disease begins attacking organs internally that are comprised of collagen, namely the lungs, kidneys, and esophagus. I have developed scarring in my esophagus and, in the past 3 years, my lungs. I am, at this writing, down to about 50 percent lung capacity with 23 percent diffusion capacity (the ability to transfer O2 and CO2 within the lungs). I will be a terminal case if I don't find a way to stop the disease. I have two options: stem cell transplant, or lung transplant. I have opted to try a stem cell transplant and am currently waiting to find out whether there is a blood type match in the national donor registry for cord blood.