My life has always been a bit complicated when it comes to my health. I was born with severe asthma and allergies. At age 14 I was in a car accident and walked away with a tramatic brain injury. Then at 19, I started having heart problems. Ten years and two heart surgeries later, they were able to fix my heart! I was looking forward to the future and being able to be more active. While recovering from heart surgery in April 2013, I got sick with the flu. The next thing I know I’m in a wheelchair unable to feel or use my legs. My world changed in ways I never could have imagined. I started experiencing debilitating muscle weakness, uncontrollable pain, violent muscle spasms and stiffness, among other things. It took a year and a half of searching to find an answer. I was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord that causes nerve dammage. Transverse Myelitis is extremely rare, only affecting 1 in 1.6 million people.
I am raising money to get an accessible vehicle that I can drive. Having a vehicle will make a huge difference in my life and be another step in regaining some independence! Not only will having an accessible vehicle help with school and volunteer work, it will also help with simple things like going to the doctor, getting medication from the pharmacy, or even running errands. It will be a welcome change from traveling the roads in my wheelchair, especially when it’s extremely hot or cold outside!
