Initially she is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and by one doctor told to see a psychiatrist. The lesser form results in hardening of the skin around the fingers and mouth but this more serious and fatal form affects the inner organs. But she's determined to lengthen this. The best part of the film is when she visits what looks like the scleraderma institute and meets a woman there who explains to her the implications. Of course you guess when her brother's wife is going to have a baby she's going to die.
Birth renews from death.
I have little idea of the impact of this. Though when we lived in France we had problems getting treatment for my daughter when she had appendicitus. Interesting argument from brother's wife who is only one urging her to let go and die and be released from the pain.