I have set up this page to represent patients who want to raise desperately needed funding for medical research into the rare disease scleroderma and raynauds phenomenon.
The entire donation will go towards funding essential medical research with no admin or employee wages.
In 1997, aged 24, I was diagnosed with diffuse Systemic Sclerosis (scleroderma) and Raynaud's. I was given a 15month prognosis. A year later, I changed my medical professional to the super human beings Prof Dame Black and Prof Denton at the Royal Free hospital.
I am now, no longer able to continue in my 60 hour week role as a barrister, as managing my symptoms is a full time job! However, I know that I am a lucky scleroderma survivor, as I have minimal internal organ damage.
Scleroderma affects the immune, vascular and connective tissue systems of the body. Raynaud's causes narrowing and constriction of the blood vessels which can lead to amputation if not treated urgently and correctly.
I am sharing my 19 year patient experience in the hope to improve the patient landscape for scleroderma patients, and the rare disease community as a whole.
I am an expert patient adviser to NHS England, The European Medicines Agency (EMA), European Rare Disease Organisation (Eurordis), British Society of Rheumatology (BSR), The Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders (JSRD)
To learn more of my story please visit:
http://www.eurordis.org/news/living-with-scleroderma-and-raynauds-disease
Please check out my landing page on SclerodermaNews.com:
http://sclerodermanews.com/nicolas-scleroderma-blog/
As well as, check out the facebook page 'Raynauds Scleroderma Awareness Global Patients' for up to date info and global patient interaction, awareness and support:
https://www.facebook.com/Raynauds-Scleroderma-Awareness-Global-Patients-1684464855104321/
And the facebook page 'Healing Loving Scleroderma with Real Food':
https://www.facebook.com/healinglovingsclerodermawithrealfood/?fref=ts
https://plus.google.com/communities/115644437712711107914
Here is my personal blog:
http://www.cosmicfairy444.blogspot.co.uk/
http://pro-vide-law.co.uk/author/nicola-whitehill/
I hope to combine my personal experience and global Ssc roles to be a true representative patient voice for the global Ssc patient community.
United, together, globally, we will crack the Scleroderma code :)
There is currently no cure for either Scleroderma or Raynaud's. Please help by donating to Prof Denton's research fund. Thank You.
Here is the link to research publications so far:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/rheumatology-and-connective-tissue-diseases/publications
#SclerodermaFreeWorld
