I have a beautiful boy who will be four soon. He was diagnosed last week with linear morphea, but does not show the typical characteristics of morphea yet. He has a red line that begins halfway down the left side of his nose and curves around the nostril flare.

Three months ago I noticed what appeared to be a very small bruise on the left side of his nose. As active as he is, I assumed it was a minor bruise. But the bruise turned red, even a solid purple color, and would come and go. Whatever it was, I knew it should not be there and decided in August to see his pediatrician, who referred us to a dermatologist who thought it was morphea.

She then referred us to a pediatric dermatologist who confirmed the linear morphea diagnosis. Now she has referred us to a pediatric rheumatologist and we wait. We are applying two topical medicines but I am sure the pediatric rheumatologist will prescribe an oral medicine, too.

I have so many questions! I have been told that the disease affects different people in different ways, so as much as I would like to prepare myself for what is to come, I cannot!

I have searched the internet in order to find another pediatric patient with linear morphea on the nose but so far have not. I do not know if we have "caught" this early enough so as to not see the typical signs or if it is simply a waiting game until those signs show up.

I do know that whatever happens, he will always be my beautiful baby boy, inside and out, and he will hear that until the day this momma is out of breath.