Kim Fischer is a wonderful, caring woman battling an unforeseeable illness. Fischer, 50, survives with a rare condition called mastocytosis. The disease causes her body to produce too many mast cells, which are key in helping the body’s immune system fend off illness. But when the body produces too many mast cells, it has the opposite effect.

After four skin biopsies and one bone marrow biopsy, she was diagnosed with mastocytosis in 2011. Doctors told her there is no cure, and medical professionals are still struggling to understand how to diagnose and treat it. The disease will likely progress into leukemia and she will have to be on a chemo pill for the rest of her life. When she was informed of her condition, she couldn't pronounce the disease, and hated to say the word because what it meant. The cells produce an excess of histomine, which results in an extremely weakened immune system and allergic reactions to almost anything. She avoids certain cleaning supplies, clothing fabric, scents and is on a strict diet of foods she can tolerate. Those who suffer from mastocytosis can experience fatigue, hives and swelling, itching, nausea and vomiting, fainting, headaches and body aches. The onsets can be mild to severe and can be brought on by almost anything, even stress. She spends many days and nights with her granddaughter LaeAnna and Fischer really enjoys making up bedtime stories. Fischer is fearful her condition may be hereditary and could develop later in LaeAnna's life. If she is having a rough day or trouble sleeping, she sits down to drawl whatever comes to mind. The therapeutic artwork allows her to become relaxed and forget about the situation. “The peace that came with it, I cannot explain it. It’s an outlet. It’s a release,” Fischer said. She has created more than 100 drawings so far. Sarah Elms did a fantastic a story, please read it here.