06/01/2021
"My name is Aaron Sims and I have Diffuse Systematic Scleroderma. As I've often heard with this disease the symptoms came on rather suddenly and unexpected however my story comes with a particular twist.
I was diagnosed in October of 2018. My symptoms manifested rather rapidly during rehab from double hip replacement in February of the same year. This disease changes people's lives and I am certainly no outlier.
I had suffered what I thought was lower back pain for the better part of my middle aged years and it was heartbreaking to hear at 44 that both hips were eligible to be replaced. Always being a glass half full kind of person I changed gears and focused on how great life would be after surgery now that I knew what ailed me. Within 5 months, after a successful surgery and a brief return to my job, I was off again, only to realize that this time there was no cure. My credit for a new lease on life had expired. Or had it?
In the months that followed, I rode the roller coaster that all Scleroderma patients ride. The questions, the fear, the angst, the outrage, the despair. But like a roller coaster, it was a short ride in comparison to the life I've lived. I would not allow scleroderma to change who I was - glass half full. My silver lining came in the knowledge of knowing that had I not suffered from hip pain for as many years as I did, I may not have had the patience to bounce back after my diagnosis. I never would have connected with the wonderful people I've come to know throughout the scleroderma community. In fact, hearing their stories made me realize how lucky I am and made me want to encourage others. At the moment, I am contemplating how I might be able to dedicate some time to give back to the community for all it has done for me. I am hoping to start through participation in this year's "walk".
Scleroderma hasn't ruined my life, it just made it...different. Now, with my credit extended and lease renewed, I can start living my best life."
"My name is Aaron Sims and I have Diffuse Systematic Scleroderma. As I've often heard with this disease the symptoms came on rather suddenly and unexpected however my story comes with a particular twist.
I was diagnosed in October of 2018. My symptoms manifested rather rapidly during rehab from double hip replacement in February of the same year. This disease changes people's lives and I am certainly no outlier.
I had suffered what I thought was lower back pain for the better part of my middle aged years and it was heartbreaking to hear at 44 that both hips were eligible to be replaced. Always being a glass half full kind of person I changed gears and focused on how great life would be after surgery now that I knew what ailed me. Within 5 months, after a successful surgery and a brief return to my job, I was off again, only to realize that this time there was no cure. My credit for a new lease on life had expired. Or had it?
In the months that followed, I rode the roller coaster that all Scleroderma patients ride. The questions, the fear, the angst, the outrage, the despair. But like a roller coaster, it was a short ride in comparison to the life I've lived. I would not allow scleroderma to change who I was - glass half full. My silver lining came in the knowledge of knowing that had I not suffered from hip pain for as many years as I did, I may not have had the patience to bounce back after my diagnosis. I never would have connected with the wonderful people I've come to know throughout the scleroderma community. In fact, hearing their stories made me realize how lucky I am and made me want to encourage others. At the moment, I am contemplating how I might be able to dedicate some time to give back to the community for all it has done for me. I am hoping to start through participation in this year's "walk".
Scleroderma hasn't ruined my life, it just made it...different. Now, with my credit extended and lease renewed, I can start living my best life."
