MILTON, Wash., July 18, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Valerie Yarborough was born with a talent for broadcasting and was headed up the star-studded ladder of success. In an instant, her doctor's words sent her reeling. The verdict was a little-known disease called scleroderma and the sentence was death. She had two choices: give in to her despair or resolve to triumph over tragedy. She chose the latter and, after battling the disease for several years, she beat it and set out on a "mission of TEARS (To Educate America Regarding Scleroderma)" to not only alert the public to the disease that nearly killed her, but also to illustrate the immense power of a determined spirit to overcome any challenge. With Angel with a Broken Wing: My Journey Into Healing (now available through 1stBooks), Yarborough brings a message of hope to the broken and tragedy-struck.
An active voice-over artist, singer and actress, she was diagnosed with scleroderma in 1996. Misdiagnosed several times, it took nearly eight months to correctly identify the disease. She was given just five years to live. The disease, which causes a hardening of the skin and continues to baffle doctors, caused her swollen joints, intense pain and a deformed appearance. She developed lung disease, circulatory problems, Raynaud's phenomenon, an abnormal sensitivity to cold, Sjorgen's syndrome, fatigue, hypertension and the list goes on. She chose the brave route of natural therapy and took advantage of every moment, no matter how ill she became.
Yarborough writes of her spiritual and emotional battle. She is now an activist for the disease and an unsung hero of the human spirit. Her book targets more than those coping with debilitating or deadly illnesses. With her encouraging words, she uplifts the spirits of those dealing with the death of a loved one, hurting from a painful divorce, chronic illness, depression or simply feeling "down and out."
Yarborough, who recently founded the Scleroderma Wings of Angels Foundation (SWOAF), is currently a member of the National Scleroderma Foundation and sat on the board of directors for the Evergreen Chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation for four years, where she is still a member in the support group. In 1978, she graduated from The American University with a bachelor's degree in communications and sociology. There, she founded The American University Gospel Choir. She began her career as a gospel radio announcer and was a member of the American Federation Of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild (AFTRA-SAG) for nine years. An honorary member of the Sacred Psychology Association, she has received training in mind-body healing and Ayurveyda from Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. David Simon. She is also a second level Reiki practitioner. She now lives in Washington State.
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