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About Kelly Sands Kelly was diagnosed with Dercum’s Disease by Dr. Karen Herbst in 2011 at the age of 33 years old. Kelly’s way of coping with her disease is to raise awareness, encourage hope for others and to run her support group. Kelly has an associates and bachelors degree in interior design but learned graphic design on her own. In Feburary 2014 She won the title and crown of MS. Florida US Universal and is using that title to spread even more awareness. She puts much energy into fundraisers to help raise money to finding a cure.

It is an amazing story how Kelly discovered she was not well. She has suffered from migraines, seizures and widespread pain since the age of 19 years old. In 2009 Kelly was working for a physical therapist as her assistant and a pain management doctor while attending online classes. Kelly’s health began to decline and she gained a lot of weight for no reason. The former beauty queen, model, gymnast and cheerleader was always able to manage her weight until this year.

Then after getting the wrong allergy shot by the nurse, she went paralyzed. During this time Kelly was getting home massage and physical therapy. The therapist noticed all the lumps on her body and brought them to Kelly’s attention. Kelly made many trips to many doctors explaining the lumps and the pain. She was told they are just cyst and not to worry. As Kelly gained her mobility back and returned to work she explained what was going on with her health thinking her employers the physical therapist and doctor would have suggestions. They explained they had no clue but offered many medications and physical therapy procedures to try to help with the pain.

Finally, Kelly found a new doctor who did a biopsy on one of the lumps from her leg and the results just came back as if it were scar tissue. She researched online and after much effort and then found an article on Dercum’s Disease. Being in denial Kelly put the copied article in her purse and it stayed there for six months. After much prayer Kelly’s employer the physical therapist came in the office one morning and told her I think I know what you have. Kelly replied does it start with a D? The physical therapist said yes and I saw this story on television on Mystery Diagnosis. The guy has all the same symptoms as you! So they brought up the show on the internet and Kelly made a note of the doctors’ name. Kelly found Dr. Karen Herbst information and made an appointment. She flew from Florida to San Diego and finally got Diagnosed!

Kelly decided not to let this disease take over her life and found a way to change a negative into a positive!

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