Medical Treatment
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My name is Devee Brunson and I use to be just a normal girl. But now I find myself having to fight for my life. I am 26 years old and I have type 3 Machado-Joseph Disease. I grew up in a small town called Fillmore, Utah were I was adopted by my wonderful parent's Dale and Fran Brunson who have left this world to be with there heavenly father. I grew up the same as any young girl with a love of horses! Sadly I can no longer participate in that hobby with out help. As I got into high school I found everyday things were becoming increasingly more difficult. We went to several doctors to try and figure out what could be happening.
After a few years of searching we got some information about my birth parent's. We found out that my birth mother has a rare genetic disorder called Machado-Joseph Disease and had spent a large portion of her life in a wheelchair. My life came crushing down around me. Not only was this disease unavoidable for me, but it was attacking my body very fast. I have been told I Will only live into my 30's which is fast approaching.
It was soon after learning about my disease that I went to college for the first time. We didn't know the extent of my disease yet, but I made a promise to my dad that I would do my best to finish school. Soon I meet my friend Carole in college and once we found out more about the disease she and I made a pact that one day we would find a way to get me in heels again. This may sound silly to you, but when you are a young girl who can no longer walk without assistance being able to walk again in heels is a big thing.
While in college my daddy became very sick and passed away, my mommy followed shortly after him. I felt broken and sad. This only made my inability to walk or talk worse. After my parents passed away I went back to Price, Utah to try and finish my schooling. Carole introduced me to her family and they quickly became my second family. When I went back to school I stayed with her grandmother and little sister DeAnne who became grandmother and sister to me.
During this time I met a boy. I thought of him as the love of my life. Carole married my cousin Which now really made us family, and soon after I married as well.
Thing's started out great. I could no longer walk without assistance and the man I married would carry me and treat me like a queen. We became pregnant and on November 6th 2011 we had a beautiful baby boy named Wyatt.
Thing's were going well for awhile. Our son got bigger, and I could no longer pick him up. Not being able to care for my son hurt my heart and made me depressed. My husband now had to take care of both of us. That didn't last very long. He told me he couldn't handle both of us anymore and I was forced to give my son up thankfully the family who adopted him is very kind and they allow me to stay in his life. I have grown to love them and appreciate that they are amazing people who can give my son's what I could not.
After giving up my baby boy, I was taken to Oregon were I was left in a trailer most of the time. Without a wheelchair I had to pull myself to the bathroom and it was almost impossible to make food. I was eating maybe once a day. I was then dropped off at a nursing home. My husband didn't visit much and I soon found out he was having an affair. I forgave him and we decided to go back to Utah.
Once we arrived in Utah I was again left in a nursing home. No one could contact my husband. For months I was left not hearing anything from him only knowing he lived because his Facebook had updates. He abandoned me and that hurt. For months he ignored me, and he only contacted me to see if I wanted to meet his new child that he had with someone else while still married to me.
The pain of that betrayal still cuts deep into my heart. I am now confined to a wheecair, My muscle spasms have made it so I can barely do anything with my hands and legs, and I cannot talk very well. All because of a disease I didn't know I had for a long time and had less time to prepare for.
But, there is hope! I have recently learned of a procedure using stem cells created from my own body fat that has the possibility to not only make Me walk and talk again, but it may also add another 10 to 20 plus years to my life. The problem is my medical will not cover the procedure and it is extremely expensive. My wish is to be able to wear heels again have time to grow old, and finish school like my daddy wanted me to. Please, help me live and God bless you!
Help Devee, visit her Facebook page and please share her story!https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005350126979
After a few years of searching we got some information about my birth parent's. We found out that my birth mother has a rare genetic disorder called Machado-Joseph Disease and had spent a large portion of her life in a wheelchair. My life came crushing down around me. Not only was this disease unavoidable for me, but it was attacking my body very fast. I have been told I Will only live into my 30's which is fast approaching.
It was soon after learning about my disease that I went to college for the first time. We didn't know the extent of my disease yet, but I made a promise to my dad that I would do my best to finish school. Soon I meet my friend Carole in college and once we found out more about the disease she and I made a pact that one day we would find a way to get me in heels again. This may sound silly to you, but when you are a young girl who can no longer walk without assistance being able to walk again in heels is a big thing.
While in college my daddy became very sick and passed away, my mommy followed shortly after him. I felt broken and sad. This only made my inability to walk or talk worse. After my parents passed away I went back to Price, Utah to try and finish my schooling. Carole introduced me to her family and they quickly became my second family. When I went back to school I stayed with her grandmother and little sister DeAnne who became grandmother and sister to me.
During this time I met a boy. I thought of him as the love of my life. Carole married my cousin Which now really made us family, and soon after I married as well.
Thing's started out great. I could no longer walk without assistance and the man I married would carry me and treat me like a queen. We became pregnant and on November 6th 2011 we had a beautiful baby boy named Wyatt.
Thing's were going well for awhile. Our son got bigger, and I could no longer pick him up. Not being able to care for my son hurt my heart and made me depressed. My husband now had to take care of both of us. That didn't last very long. He told me he couldn't handle both of us anymore and I was forced to give my son up thankfully the family who adopted him is very kind and they allow me to stay in his life. I have grown to love them and appreciate that they are amazing people who can give my son's what I could not.
After giving up my baby boy, I was taken to Oregon were I was left in a trailer most of the time. Without a wheelchair I had to pull myself to the bathroom and it was almost impossible to make food. I was eating maybe once a day. I was then dropped off at a nursing home. My husband didn't visit much and I soon found out he was having an affair. I forgave him and we decided to go back to Utah.
Once we arrived in Utah I was again left in a nursing home. No one could contact my husband. For months I was left not hearing anything from him only knowing he lived because his Facebook had updates. He abandoned me and that hurt. For months he ignored me, and he only contacted me to see if I wanted to meet his new child that he had with someone else while still married to me.
The pain of that betrayal still cuts deep into my heart. I am now confined to a wheecair, My muscle spasms have made it so I can barely do anything with my hands and legs, and I cannot talk very well. All because of a disease I didn't know I had for a long time and had less time to prepare for.
But, there is hope! I have recently learned of a procedure using stem cells created from my own body fat that has the possibility to not only make Me walk and talk again, but it may also add another 10 to 20 plus years to my life. The problem is my medical will not cover the procedure and it is extremely expensive. My wish is to be able to wear heels again have time to grow old, and finish school like my daddy wanted me to. Please, help me live and God bless you!
Help Devee, visit her Facebook page and please share her story!https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005350126979
Organizer
Divee Brunson
Organizer
Ogden, UT
