Mom Makes Greeting Cards Inspired By Struggle Against Disease

The Dallas Morning News:

Sitting in her Plano living room, Emily Nitz Woods speaks slowly and deliberately about her long road and how it led her into the greeting and inspirational card business.

Ms. Woods has survived a risky stem-cell transplant to combat scleroderma, a chronic autoimmune disease that hardens the skin. It can be life-threatening if it attacks internal organs.

Ms. Woods’ life changed dramatically in 1999, when she was 29. She had poor circulation, stiff joints and tightening skin. Then she received the diagnosis: scleroderma.

About 300,000 Americans have the disease. At first, she could function normally, but with limited range of motion. But her symptoms worsened about four months after the birth of her daughter, Emma, in 2002.

Her physical decline continued despite traditional drug therapy. She turned to the Internet to research options.

“Even though I wanted to educate myself, it was depressing and so it was kind of a Catch-22,” she said.

Her research led her to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where she received the transplant as a last-ditch effort.

The stem cells were drawn from her bone marrow and preserved while she received chemotherapy. Then, the stem cells were transfused. Temporary kidney failure caused a delay in her return home and prolonged the separation from her daughter.

But the transplant was a turning point. Within six months, there was vast improvement.

During occupational therapy and healing, she discovered a need to find meaning in her survival.

“I wanted something to relay the emotions I went through, the things I’ve learned – that there is hope and not to give up,” she said.

Dream On Media was born. Ms. Woods shares her thoughts in greeting and inspirational cards.