Hi, I'm Serena Justis. You can call me by my nickname, Barefut. I have been an ISN Blogger in Sclero Forums since October 2007. I am honored to add Support Specialist to my responsibilities here at ISN, home of the most beautiful, caring, supportive, compassionate group of people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. If I can give even half of the support and comfort that I have received here then I will be doing great.

I am a forty-two-year-old single mom of two precious boys, ages five and ten (and a Golden Retriever age four). I have a BA in Sociology but I spent my working career in the hotel industry. I have been a stay at home mom for the past ten years but have recently gone back to work full time as a bank teller.

My first autoimmune symptoms began back in 1998 when my hair started falling out. I went to a dermatologist and he said since I was nursing my six month old, it was probably just a lack of vitamin K. Many more symptoms later and a positive ANA landed me with a "probable lupus " diagnosis. Then came Raynaud's in early 2005 and by October the same year, puffy hands and shortness of breath.

I was finally referred to a rheumatologist and in January 2006 I was diagnosed with diffuse systemic scleroderma, with skin, gastrointestinal, and lung involvement. I am being treated with Cellcept and have remained stable since February 2006.

I am very lucky to be living a relatively normal life, still able to do most everything I need and want to do (with a little help from my friends, family and neighbors).

You can read my blog by logging in to Sclero Forums, then selecting the Blog link in the upper right hand corner of each page. As a blogger, if I can make you smile then I have done my job. If I can make you laugh then I have done my job well.

As a Support Specialist I will steer members to reliable, up to date information, offer my ear to bend, my shoulder to cry on and my best advice based on my own education and experiences with life and scleroderma.

My email address is serena-justis@sclero.org. Stay healthy, happy, safe and warm!