For all the Colleens we've loved and lost...a tribute to one of them on St. Patrick's Day

March 16, 2012 - PRLog -- Although Colleen started kicking and clawing her way into this world on March 15, there is no greater claim to fame in an Irish family, than to have a baby born on St. Patrick’s Day. So my mother gritted her teeth and won the battle, delivering what appeared to be a healthy baby girl on March 17th. She was appropriately named Colleen…Irish for ‘girl.’ In retrospect, it should have been pretty obvious. Colleen had three older sisters; surely they knew what a girl looked like by the time the fourth one came along.

And I’m sure the family tried to canonize my mother a saint. This was a big deal! The grandfather and uncles came bearing gifts like the gift of the Magi. Sure and she was the chosen one, but we all accepted this because there’s a little bit of a mischievous leprechaun in those born on this significant day…and endearing quality. Every St. Patrick’s Day we celebrated Colleen’s birthday in grand fashion. Usually at the local German restaurant where the Oom Pah band made their best attempt at playing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.” Did I mention that the other side of the family was German, and that there were no Irish restaurants to be found at that time?

All the Irish eyes in the family quit smiling when we found out that our happy-go-lucky imp had been subjected to a rare disease called Scleroderma. A disease that only affects 1% of the nation’s population, mostly girls…colleens. Scleroderma is a congenital autoimmune, overactive, connective tissue disease. Simply put, the immune system overcompensates and literally turns against one’s own body! With a connective tissue disease, all tissues such as skin, tendons, cartilage, and organs, are affected. We were devastated to find out that our little leprechaun was not blessed with the ‘luck of the Irish.’ Her life would be a torturous existence. One of the most prevalent side effects is Raynaud’s phenomenon in which the fingers and other extremities lose their circulation and turn blue (even purple) in response to cold temperatures or anxiety. There is no effective treatment for the brutal and debilitating side effects of Scleroderma. Unfortunately those born with Scleroderma have their fate sealed. The colleens will not be comfortable in cold climates, probably not be able to carry their babies to full term, and will have a lifespan half that of the average woman, eventually dying from pulmonary hypertension. They don't know what causes this devastating disease and there’s no cure for it.

Unfortunately fundraising efforts are directed at diseases that affect the masses. Because Scleroderma is not at epidemic proportions there may never be a cure if sufficient enough money is not raised for research. In our family on St. Patrick’s Day we party no more. Our Colleen had her luck run out a few years ago when she finally succumbed to the ravages of Scleroderma. Sure and we’ll be wearin’ the green in honor of Colleen, but sharin’ the green may help the other unlucky colleens if a cure can be developed. For more information about Scleroderma or to make a donation for a cure, go to www.sclerodermaRESEARCH.org

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