My blog is about some recent experiences that have affected me and will affect me for the rest of my life. I have felt it is important for me to share this for others to hear of my experiences. The blog is called MY Time to Stand because of the metaphorical meaning to stand amidst a challenge, and the literal challenge it has been for me to stand. I hope my experiences being shared will be a blessing to others!
I am working on writing everything down, but here is a rundown of what happened:
In the middle of May I started to have some weird sensations in my abdomen area. It ended up leading to severe back pain and weakness in my legs. It soon led to me going numb from my chest down and it got to the extreme that I experienced losing the ability to walk. Then, in the middle of September, I also lost the ability to see out of most of my left eye. In short, I have been a paralyzed and blind woman who now walks and sees.
Well, as everyone should now know (or if you had no idea that anything happened), I have come back miraculously from these experiences! I have not only regained the ability to walk, but to run! I have returned back to golfing and working out with my golf team. I have also nearly regained all of my vision. I am beyond grateful that these have only lasted for a period of time. I know that by the grace of God, prayers and fasts in my behalf, faith, the power of the priesthood, positivity, humility, modern medicine, and several other factors, I have been able to mostly regain these deficits. So, thank you all so much for your help getting me to where I am now. There is no way I could have done it without all the support I have had.
So where am I now?
Well, thanks to my stellar parents, two months ago they were able to figure out the reason of these attacks to my body, and found that I have an extremely rare autoimmune disease (NMO or Devic’s Disease) that could lead to experiences of paralysis and blindness occurring again. Both of my neurologists have confirmed this diagnosis, and we have made a game plan to hopefully help my body not have any attacks again.
I started a treatment that has been successful so far. Time is going to be the big indicator though on whether or not it is working. From my first attack to second attack, it was a four month period without being on any treatment at all. Two weeks ago, I got my first dose of my treatment and today I got my second. I will wait six months to get the treatment again. If I do not have any more attacks I’m going to keep getting treatment. Basically the treatment is going to help suppress my immune system. I get it through an IV and it can take anywhere from 3-6 hours to get it infused. The drug is actually typically used as a cancer drug, but through research, the neurologist I met at the MAYO Clinic was confident this was the best route to go. Now, I am mostly in a waiting game to see if my body can stay in the state that it is now, and possibly get even better. I am back to living as much of a normal life as I can handle, and everyday I thank my Heavenly Father that I am able to walk and see. I still have some numbness on my right side, but it is very manageable, and I am pretty much the only person that can notice it.
To be honest, initially getting the news of having NMO was a scary thought. The experiences within themselves were difficult, but I had hoped that they were mostly just freak experiences. Only about 4,000 people in the U.S. are known to have my condition, so there are a lot of unknowns of what will happen. I’ve read about other people’s experiences with NMO, and I know I am blessed to be where I am now. Although it has been a difficult process, my life and perspective has changed, and I know life will turn out for me how it is supposed to. It really has been an incredible miracle that I have come to the point I am today. I want all to know that I have seen many tender mercies, and I know it has been because God has been good to me. My recovery wasn’t just handed to me though, work has been required. I have had to fight to get to where I am. I also know it is because of the many people who have prayed and fasted for me, I have felt the impact of those in my recovery process.
My life is a miracle! I cannot deny it. I knew God was real before these experiences, but I have come to understand Him better and I have seen His role in my life so much greater through my experiences. If life is hard for you, keep on fighting. Look for the tender mercies in your life, for life isn’t so bad unless you make it that way. God is leading you along even if you can’t see so right now. There will be things in your life that you can control and things you can’t control. Work on improving those things you can control, and have faith that those things you can’t control will get worked out because they will. The trials we go through may be a long and hard process, but having a positive outlook will help you get through it. Keep on believing for the best because miracles may happen! That has been the case in my life!
