My name is Kaelin and I have had scleroderma since 2003. I first noticed that my fingers were started to turn blue, then I began to get painful sores on them that did not heal. After showing this to my primary doctor, he then called in a specialist who diagnosed me with scleroderma. Having scleroderma has affected my daily activities and my life in general. It has changed my relationships with both my family and friends. I no longer have the energy and stamina to do many of the things that "20-somethings" do; however, I try to maintain a positive attitude and am pleased that I can continue to work and preserve much of my independence. I cope with my hands by wearing mittens to keep them warm and try to follow the instructions from my doctors. My advice to other scleroderma patients is to not give up and to look for developing treatments to help you cope and manage the disease. I feel very fortunate that I have a great support system to help me.