Freda & Kersten

Howdy!  I am from Texas, just north of Big "D" (Dallas) in Allen, Texas!  I was born and raised in Texas, a home grown tomato!   Yep, I have  raised cattle and rode  horses, but never  wore a six shooter!  HA HA!!   I went to college in Austin, Texas the University of Texas!  Met my current husband while he was stationed in Austin guarding planes with  atomic  weapons on board.  He was an officer in the Air Force and we spent a great deal of time together before he was shipped off to Vietnam and later to Tailand. We both have the same birthdays and after he was stationed in Germany he took a 30 day leave and flew back to the states and asked for my hand in marriage, then I flew back to Germany where we were married.  We were both born in the same hospital same date but five years apart and raised in Houston, Texas.

My son came along in 1980, a big boy of 8lbs and 9ozs and blondish red hair!

In the 7th month of my pregnancy I started having pain in my hips and that over all ache of FMS.  I was dx with the illness shortly after the birth of my son by a doctor in San Antonio, Texas, a rheumatologist, when they called the illness fibrositis.  I thought the man was a quack!  I didn't believe a word he had to say and the meds he gave me didn't do a thing for the pain.  So, I endured many years of pain and sleepless night.  Working outside the home as well as inside the home.  

I was the "A" type person doing everything for everyone!  My son had open heart surgery for an ASD at 4 years old and the economy dropped in the San Antonio area and drove us to sell and move to Dallas for jobs in 1988.  My husband went from job to job trying to avoid layoffs, company take overs and companies just flat going out of business for years.  

After much consideration we had our second child 9 years apart from my son, my daughter who was another big baby with 2 inches of red hair at birth!  After the birth of my second child my health took a really hard hit!  I was 36 and was just unable to work outside the home after her 7th birthday.  I was a mortgage loan officer and came down with pneumonia which almost took my life.  The doctor didn't dx the illness correctly for almost a month as I grew worse and worse.  After spending 10 days in the hospital fighting for my life and 30 days at home in bed I returned to work part-time finding that my business was gone and so was my health.  

I tried for a number of years with a number of doctors to try and find out why I felt so bad and was dx again with FMS.  This time I believed the doctor.  I spent four and half years trying to get SSD and finally did receive it after much fighting and hiring an attorney to get it thru!  My son is now 24 and still living with us and working selling insurance, straight commission.  He is working hard to build his business and his life.  My daughter is now 15 soon to be 16 in December and a Sophomore in High School.  We have one cat and one dog who keep me busy during the day around the house.  

I love to read, garden and keep my house spotless, but those days seem to be over.  Now I have to hire someone to help me.  I love to watch my daughter play volleyball and my middle name is Miss Taxi Driver to all of her events!  I am now, with the help of the Arthritis Foundation in this region, trying to start a support group for the Richardson, Plano, Allen, Frisco and McKinney area.  I am hoping to learn to knit this winter and get my group off to a good start.  

I wish you didn't have to have this illness to get to this site, but I am glad you found us.  We come from every walk of life and we welcome all!  May your days be bright and you happiness be found in the small things in life.  I get thru my illness one day at a time and some days one minute at a time.  I have tired a number of treatment protocols and meds and have tried to keep up with the latest research.  We now think my daughter has this illness and if so, she plans to work in bringing awareness to the illness with teens.  It's been a long haul, but never say, NEVER!  Don't give up, God will be there at all times to hold your hand!