The Kim Harrison Story
On September 4, 2004, I went to Dallas, TX for a business trip. It was to be more than a business trip. Unbeknownst to me, my life would change forever.
My story begins at age 45 where I was living in Atlanta, Georgia. I was till in Dallas on the morning of October 6th. I had volunteered to stay longer than originally planned but was scheduled to go home in just two days. That morning I got up and my right foot felt as it was asleep. It had a tingling feeling. I keep taping my foot on the floor to wake it up. By 9:00 the tingling had move up past my knee cap and when I tried to walk, I kept walking into walls and falling down. The crew there keep telling me to go to ER. But I just laughed at them. Go to the ER for a foot that is asleep, please! By 10:00 AM I had to be carried to a car and off to urgent care.
The doctor there did a few quick tests and sent me straight to the ER. (He thought I was having a stroke). When we got to the ER five miles away they were waiting outside for me. I kept laughing that they offered curb side service. They rushed me to a room and started a "barrage of tests". By 3:00 PM I had gone through 2 MRIs and 3 CAT scans. The doctors were completely baffled saying, “We cannot figure out what is wrong with you and have never seen anyone present in the ER with such rapid case of paralysis. Now the "tingling" and paralysis had moved up past my thigh, and I can no longer move my right leg at all, not even wiggle my toe! I had been in touch with my husband, Brian, and by now he is totally freaking out. I, on the other hand, was still making light of the whole situation. Luckily, I had family close by and someone was with me until my husband was able to fly to Dallas.
When I woke the next day my left foot started to tingle. At this point I knew something was terribly wrong. It took the neurologist five days to finally diagnosis me with Transverse Myelitis.
I was in the hospital a little over a week and then moved to a rehab faculty next to the hospital (more like old folks home) I was the young kid there at 45 years old. I was in patient rehab for a week after which I was finally able to go back home to Georgia. After a month, I returned to work.
I use my walker around the house and wheel chair in public. My right leg still drags like I've had a stroke. The "banding" pain around my waist and the burning in my feet would be my two primary issues. I cannot wear pants unless they have elastic at the waist and I can no longer wear shoes or socks. This makes it hard to use my AFO braces because shoes on my feet are so painful.
It is so hard to explain to people that in no way did I see this coming. I got up one morning and within eight hours I was paralyzed. But life does go on. It's the adjustment we have to learn to deal with regardless if you have TM or any other medical condition. You work and live the life that has been dealt to you in the most positive way you can.
The Delinda Abercrombie Story
My journey with Transverse Myelitis(TM) began while at work on Christmas Eve, 2011. That was the day TM entered my life and changed me forever. The first days were confusing and frightening as I learned what TM was and what it could be. I was lucky to have doctors who took my needs and concerns to heart. I was also lucky to receive a quick diagnosis due to an immediate referral from Dr. Woodard at Middle Creek Medical Center to Dr. Frank Thomas.
Dr. Thomas had a diagnosis and treatment in place within a day. I know how lucky I am to have recovered about 90%. However, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my daughter who encouraged me to keep moving. I went to the gym every day. She also challenged me to try crossfit. The coaches at Crossfit Bravery have helped me with functional mobility and strength. I remember during one workout, as I laid in a pool of my own sweat, coach Rhett Gallego leaned over me and in a not so soft voice, he told me to "FIND A WAY !".
I still have balance issues and weakness but every day I thank Dr’s Woodard and Thomas for the quick care and treatment I received. As I look back over the past two years I wonder why I am doing so well. First and foremost I am very lucky. Second I got a very quick diagnosis and treatment and lastly the ability to continue my pattern of intense daily exercise. I believe this MAY have helped my physical recovery and I KNOW it helped my mental recovery. Today and every day I will "FIND A WAY."
The Chris Peebles Story
I’m Chris Peebles and this is my Transverse Myelitis story. It started in January of 2004. I woke up weak in my left leg and was dragging it behind me. I knew something wasn't right. I was 17 and never felt anything like it in my life. I think back to December 2003 I had the flu really bad and I didn't seem to get well or over it. I was deathly sick.
The first time I went to the ER, I was given a drug test and sent home. Needless to say I was very angry. I wanted answers and they assumed I wanted pain pills. Two days later I was getting worse. I then went to another ER. At first they thought I had a stroke. They did an MRI and the result was Transverse Myelitis. I was admitted to the hospital. Because I was only 17 years old at the time, I was placed in the children’s unit. My 18th birthday would be in a week. I recovered pretty quickly and stayed in the hospital for about a week.
The second time I was admitted to the hospital was on October 2004. It hit me bad. This time I would be paralyzed from my chest down. I stayed a month at UAB hospital. Then I was transferred to Huntsville to do inpatient rehab for a month. I continued to rehab and have recovered pretty well.
It has been 10 years and I nearly have no bad side effects. This past September I had started having severe anxiety and panic attacks. At time my legs felt like they were on fire and there were times when I didn't even want to get out of bed. This is a terrible disease and some have it worse than others.I have no regrets and I believe this has taught me to be more appreciative of life.
On September 4, 2004, I went to Dallas, TX for a business trip. It was to be more than a business trip. Unbeknownst to me, my life would change forever.
My story begins at age 45 where I was living in Atlanta, Georgia. I was till in Dallas on the morning of October 6th. I had volunteered to stay longer than originally planned but was scheduled to go home in just two days. That morning I got up and my right foot felt as it was asleep. It had a tingling feeling. I keep taping my foot on the floor to wake it up. By 9:00 the tingling had move up past my knee cap and when I tried to walk, I kept walking into walls and falling down. The crew there keep telling me to go to ER. But I just laughed at them. Go to the ER for a foot that is asleep, please! By 10:00 AM I had to be carried to a car and off to urgent care.
The doctor there did a few quick tests and sent me straight to the ER. (He thought I was having a stroke). When we got to the ER five miles away they were waiting outside for me. I kept laughing that they offered curb side service. They rushed me to a room and started a "barrage of tests". By 3:00 PM I had gone through 2 MRIs and 3 CAT scans. The doctors were completely baffled saying, “We cannot figure out what is wrong with you and have never seen anyone present in the ER with such rapid case of paralysis. Now the "tingling" and paralysis had moved up past my thigh, and I can no longer move my right leg at all, not even wiggle my toe! I had been in touch with my husband, Brian, and by now he is totally freaking out. I, on the other hand, was still making light of the whole situation. Luckily, I had family close by and someone was with me until my husband was able to fly to Dallas.
When I woke the next day my left foot started to tingle. At this point I knew something was terribly wrong. It took the neurologist five days to finally diagnosis me with Transverse Myelitis.
I was in the hospital a little over a week and then moved to a rehab faculty next to the hospital (more like old folks home) I was the young kid there at 45 years old. I was in patient rehab for a week after which I was finally able to go back home to Georgia. After a month, I returned to work.
I use my walker around the house and wheel chair in public. My right leg still drags like I've had a stroke. The "banding" pain around my waist and the burning in my feet would be my two primary issues. I cannot wear pants unless they have elastic at the waist and I can no longer wear shoes or socks. This makes it hard to use my AFO braces because shoes on my feet are so painful.
It is so hard to explain to people that in no way did I see this coming. I got up one morning and within eight hours I was paralyzed. But life does go on. It's the adjustment we have to learn to deal with regardless if you have TM or any other medical condition. You work and live the life that has been dealt to you in the most positive way you can.
The Delinda Abercrombie Story
My journey with Transverse Myelitis(TM) began while at work on Christmas Eve, 2011. That was the day TM entered my life and changed me forever. The first days were confusing and frightening as I learned what TM was and what it could be. I was lucky to have doctors who took my needs and concerns to heart. I was also lucky to receive a quick diagnosis due to an immediate referral from Dr. Woodard at Middle Creek Medical Center to Dr. Frank Thomas.
Dr. Thomas had a diagnosis and treatment in place within a day. I know how lucky I am to have recovered about 90%. However, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my daughter who encouraged me to keep moving. I went to the gym every day. She also challenged me to try crossfit. The coaches at Crossfit Bravery have helped me with functional mobility and strength. I remember during one workout, as I laid in a pool of my own sweat, coach Rhett Gallego leaned over me and in a not so soft voice, he told me to "FIND A WAY !".
I still have balance issues and weakness but every day I thank Dr’s Woodard and Thomas for the quick care and treatment I received. As I look back over the past two years I wonder why I am doing so well. First and foremost I am very lucky. Second I got a very quick diagnosis and treatment and lastly the ability to continue my pattern of intense daily exercise. I believe this MAY have helped my physical recovery and I KNOW it helped my mental recovery. Today and every day I will "FIND A WAY."
The Chris Peebles Story
I’m Chris Peebles and this is my Transverse Myelitis story. It started in January of 2004. I woke up weak in my left leg and was dragging it behind me. I knew something wasn't right. I was 17 and never felt anything like it in my life. I think back to December 2003 I had the flu really bad and I didn't seem to get well or over it. I was deathly sick.
The first time I went to the ER, I was given a drug test and sent home. Needless to say I was very angry. I wanted answers and they assumed I wanted pain pills. Two days later I was getting worse. I then went to another ER. At first they thought I had a stroke. They did an MRI and the result was Transverse Myelitis. I was admitted to the hospital. Because I was only 17 years old at the time, I was placed in the children’s unit. My 18th birthday would be in a week. I recovered pretty quickly and stayed in the hospital for about a week.
The second time I was admitted to the hospital was on October 2004. It hit me bad. This time I would be paralyzed from my chest down. I stayed a month at UAB hospital. Then I was transferred to Huntsville to do inpatient rehab for a month. I continued to rehab and have recovered pretty well.
It has been 10 years and I nearly have no bad side effects. This past September I had started having severe anxiety and panic attacks. At time my legs felt like they were on fire and there were times when I didn't even want to get out of bed. This is a terrible disease and some have it worse than others.I have no regrets and I believe this has taught me to be more appreciative of life.
