Scleroderma

Celebrating an important anniversary is always a blessing. The Scleroderma Care Foundation was officially incorporated on 15th October 2008. Its mission to provide support and education for persons afflicted with Scleroderma within Trinidad and Tobago became a reality after months of thought, deliberation and legal preparation. Working alongside my son Adelwyn Holder, I anticipated an organization that would be welcomed and appreciated by many persons who were suffering alone because of the devastating effects Scleroderma.

Our first year has been magnificent. The Lord has been placing the right persons in our path to achieve our vision for our members. Although the Foundation was incorporated in October 2008, the initial months were nothing short of challenging, as the ground work took time. The loss of my friend Jennifer Hannibal, who succumbed to Scleroderma in January 2009, and news of two other Scleroderma related deaths propelled my desire to ‘get the ball rolling’. The Support Group met for the first time on Sunday 15th February, 2009. Five persons and their families and close friends spent time together. There were tears of joy and tears of sorrow that evening… but we were all just grateful that we no longer had to deal with this condition alone. Thank God!

The future of the Scleroderma Care Foundation is indeed ladened with hope and extreme promise. I hope that all Scleroderma sufferers in Trinidad and Tobago, and by extension, the world, would realize the importance of accepting support when trying to fight such diseases, like Scleroderma. I hope that the general public and the health-challenged would realize that quality of life is closely related to healthier life-styles. My greater hope is for all to be educated regarding the difficulties and life-altering effects of Scleroderma on a persons’ life, causing better understanding, appreciation and interaction with such persons.

Today, as we celebrate our first anniversary I pray for the Lord’s continued blessing for the Scleroderma Care Foundation, its members, family, friends and supporters. God Bless you richly with an abundance of good health!

Susan Le Gendre
Co-Founder and Vice-President