My mother in law Barbara was diagnosed with CREST Syndrome about twelve years ago. She is also a breast cancer survivor and very vibrant person and loves her grandchildren.

Unfortunately, as I sit here writing this letter my husband and I are faced with some grim circumstances. She is currently losing her battle to CREST syndrome. For the last five weeks she has been on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in a long term acute care hospital. Her kidneys and liver are failing and she is also on a ventilator. She has always been strong in fighting this disease, one episode after another, but now she is in severe pain even with a morphine drip.

My husband is her only surviving child and he has been there to take his mother to all of her doctor appointments. He is very close to her and it hurts me to see him having to go through her final stage.

This is a hard disease on your body and spirit. My mother-in-law was always traveling and spending time with her family. I know she will know longer have to suffer and she will be in a better place.

We love and will miss her.