Erica
The morning of February 23, 2010, started out as any other normal day. I awoke from my slumber and sluggishly made myself get halfway decent for yet another day of learning at school. We had a test that day, so our physical education class was moved to the end of the day. I had felt fine and was ready to come home from yet another ordinary day of school.
During physical education I played a game of basketball, my all-time favorite. Not to brag, but I felt like this was one of the best games I had ever played! My movements were swift as I made each basket count. Everyone would soon forget about this game, but not me. During the excitement of the game, my right leg started to feel like it was cramping. I had never experienced a cramp in my leg before, but I figured that is what it must feel like. Still, I assumed my position and continued with the exhilarating game. Not long after the game ended, I went outside to wait for my mom to pick me up and take me to my Meme’s house. There I would have something to eat, share laughs, and smiles like we always did.
Today was different. My legs felt horrible, so I sat down. Luckily my mom arrived within a matter of minutes. I got up and staggered to the car. The pain was excruciating. The best way to describe it is, it felt like someone was taking their hands and squeezing my inside muscles as tight as they could. Even today, remembering the feeling makes my whole body shiver. My mom reached over and massaged my right calf, the one that was hurting. Immediately, the pain made its way to my toes and over to my left leg as well. Not knowing what was wrong, my mom stopped by my Meme’s house and tried to get me out of the car. She then quickly decided to take me to the local emergency department.
The short ride to the hospital was the longest 15 minutes of my life. When we arrived, my mom asked me to get out of the car. By this time I was paralyzed. This all happened in a total of 30 minutes. She went and got a wheelchair and had someone pick me up and put me into the chair. My legs would not move and they dragged on the ground as I was pushed into the dreary hospital. They did a CT scan and said I had a bulging disk. I was then transferred to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama where I underwent a 4 hour MRI and spinal tap. This couldn’t be happening to me. My life was ordinary; the same every day, for goodness sake. I had my friend’s birthday party to attend that weekend! It wasn't until the next morning when I finally received the diagnosis of transverse myelitis.
I just wanted to have surgery or something. I wanted to get better for dance class the next night. I had gone to dance classes for eight years, never missing a day. But they said my disorder is incurable. Incurable! There would be no more parties, dance class or, what most people classify as, a normal life. I underwent some great treatment and also went through physical and occupational therapy. Those hadn’t been my plans for that five-week period. I was released and was finally sent home. Just like that, I was paralyzed from a disorder I had never heard of.
Today, I still hold my head high and work hard with therapy and staying positive, because that is all you can do. I believe I will get better. I was never told that, but I am sure I will persevere. I am the girl at school in the wheelchair or sometimes I walk with crutches. I will show them all. I won’t let transverse myelitis beat me.
Transverse Myelitis 2013
I have made so many improvements since February 23, 2010. I am still maintaining an A average in all of my Honors classes. A big change that has happened to me is that I joined a wheelchair basketball team. I am currently playing for the Lakeshore Lakers in Birmingham, Alabama. Another improvement I made is that I can now walk full-time at school on two canes. Life isn’t the same since before TM, but I have learned so many new things and met many amazing people through this journey.
The morning of February 23, 2010, started out as any other normal day. I awoke from my slumber and sluggishly made myself get halfway decent for yet another day of learning at school. We had a test that day, so our physical education class was moved to the end of the day. I had felt fine and was ready to come home from yet another ordinary day of school.
During physical education I played a game of basketball, my all-time favorite. Not to brag, but I felt like this was one of the best games I had ever played! My movements were swift as I made each basket count. Everyone would soon forget about this game, but not me. During the excitement of the game, my right leg started to feel like it was cramping. I had never experienced a cramp in my leg before, but I figured that is what it must feel like. Still, I assumed my position and continued with the exhilarating game. Not long after the game ended, I went outside to wait for my mom to pick me up and take me to my Meme’s house. There I would have something to eat, share laughs, and smiles like we always did.
Today was different. My legs felt horrible, so I sat down. Luckily my mom arrived within a matter of minutes. I got up and staggered to the car. The pain was excruciating. The best way to describe it is, it felt like someone was taking their hands and squeezing my inside muscles as tight as they could. Even today, remembering the feeling makes my whole body shiver. My mom reached over and massaged my right calf, the one that was hurting. Immediately, the pain made its way to my toes and over to my left leg as well. Not knowing what was wrong, my mom stopped by my Meme’s house and tried to get me out of the car. She then quickly decided to take me to the local emergency department.
The short ride to the hospital was the longest 15 minutes of my life. When we arrived, my mom asked me to get out of the car. By this time I was paralyzed. This all happened in a total of 30 minutes. She went and got a wheelchair and had someone pick me up and put me into the chair. My legs would not move and they dragged on the ground as I was pushed into the dreary hospital. They did a CT scan and said I had a bulging disk. I was then transferred to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama where I underwent a 4 hour MRI and spinal tap. This couldn’t be happening to me. My life was ordinary; the same every day, for goodness sake. I had my friend’s birthday party to attend that weekend! It wasn't until the next morning when I finally received the diagnosis of transverse myelitis.
I just wanted to have surgery or something. I wanted to get better for dance class the next night. I had gone to dance classes for eight years, never missing a day. But they said my disorder is incurable. Incurable! There would be no more parties, dance class or, what most people classify as, a normal life. I underwent some great treatment and also went through physical and occupational therapy. Those hadn’t been my plans for that five-week period. I was released and was finally sent home. Just like that, I was paralyzed from a disorder I had never heard of.
Today, I still hold my head high and work hard with therapy and staying positive, because that is all you can do. I believe I will get better. I was never told that, but I am sure I will persevere. I am the girl at school in the wheelchair or sometimes I walk with crutches. I will show them all. I won’t let transverse myelitis beat me.
Transverse Myelitis 2013
I have made so many improvements since February 23, 2010. I am still maintaining an A average in all of my Honors classes. A big change that has happened to me is that I joined a wheelchair basketball team. I am currently playing for the Lakeshore Lakers in Birmingham, Alabama. Another improvement I made is that I can now walk full-time at school on two canes. Life isn’t the same since before TM, but I have learned so many new things and met many amazing people through this journey.
