'I thought it was just stress after my divorce — but now it is slowly killing me'

'I thought it was just stress after my divorce — but now it is slowly killing me' Kristina Hamilton wants to warn others as she continues to fight diffuse systemic scleroderma, with which she was diagnosed following a bout of anxiety and stress A mum has today warned others about a rare life-threatening disease with which she has been diagnosed after a period of significant stress. Kristina Hamilton had initially dismissed the anxiety, putting it down to her divorce at the time. However, she soon became concerned when her fingers turned "ghostly white" and she started experiencing gut issues. Doctors diagnosed Kristina, 43, with a chronic autoimmune disease called diffuse systemic scleroderma, which causes issues with the skin, muscles, bones, internal organs and blood vessels. It turns the body's own defence mechanism into an aggressor, triggering an overproduction of collagen. And now, around four years after the diagnosis, stay-at-home mum Kristina says she is unsure how long she has left. She added: "Learning this was incurable was one of the most devastating moments of my life. It felt like the ground beneath me disappeared. And then I was told it was life-threatening. "It was the hardest reality to face. As it affects the vital organs, it's unpredictable what damage it's doing." It is thought there are only around 100,000 cases of diffuse systemic scleroderma globally and so, little research has been carried out about it. There is also no cure and, according to Kristina, no timeline around the deterioration. "I've had to confront fears I never imagined having at my age, such as leaving my children and husband too soon. Not being able to celebrate future moments with them was a worry," the mother of three, from Florida, continued. "So was losing pieces of myself and becoming totally dependent on others. Worst of all, there's no timeline... But, as long as I am breathing, I'm still healing. And, most of all, I'm still standing." Kristina, whose first symptom was sores and rashes she thought were as a result of the stress following her divorce, has encouraged others who notice any changes to their skin to visit their doctor. Other early symptoms often include joint pain and issues with swallowing, as was the case for Kristina. She has urged anyone who does get diagnosed with diffuse systemic scleroderma or any other terminal illness to embrace the time they have left. She added: "When my symptoms first started, I honestly thought it was stress and exhaustion. At the time, I was going through [so much]. I just ignored it. And, I didn't want to believe something serious was wrong." The exact cause is currently unknown, though it's believed to be linked to a genetic issue that has been triggered to "wake up". These triggers can be stress, trauma or illness. Three years after Kristina was told her news she remarried, and had a small ceremony in Florida with new spouse Chris, 44, after Wish Upon a Wedding, a non-profit, granted them the funds. The charity works by granting this wish to those with terminal illnesses. The mum said: "At that point in my life, I was carrying so much uncertainty. But they turned what could have been a really stressful time into one of the most beautiful and unforgettable moments of my life. I felt seen, valued and deserving of joy."