My sister passed away six years ago at the age of forty-nine. She first was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a mastectomy followed by chemotherapy. She then developed scleroderma.

It was hard to watch her going through all of that. She had a lot of difficulty breathing, and had to be on oxygen all the time. Her arms and hands would swell up and I remember the skin on her fingers was so tight and shiny.

I never once heard her complain. She bore it all with such dignity. On the day before she died, her daughter graduated from college. I thank God that she was able to make it to see her daughter walk down that isle and receive her diploma. She passed away that next day while laying on her living room sofa.

I still think of her very often, and truly miss her loving and caring ways.

Last summer I was diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD). I do not know what lies ahead for me on this path, I only hope that I can be as strong as my sister was.