DVC Stem: Help me walk again
Donation protected
Hey everyone!
My life recently changed forever when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was taken completely back to square one of basic living. But before we get into that lets talk about what Multiple Sclerosis is, MS is a disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord which makeup the central nervous system and controls everything we do.
The exact cause of MS is unknown, but we do know that something triggers the immune system to attach the brain and spinal cord. The resulting damage to myelin, the protective layer insulating wire-like nerve fibers, disrupts signals to and from the brain. The interruption of communication signals causes unpredictable symptoms such as numbness, tingling, mood changes, memory problems, pain, fatigue, blindness and/or paralysis. Everyone’s experience with MS is different and these losses may be temporary or long lasting.
I spent 2 months in the hospital the summer of 2019, starting in June, a week and a half in the main hospital and a month and a half in the rehab facility. I had lost the ability to even move my legs, my arms had side effects as well as I could not feed myself for a month. The rehab really helped me rebuild the strength I had in my arms and upper body, but my legs were still lifeless. It began to look like this was going to be my new normal…
I was so excited and ready to leave the hospital and the food behind, I missed my bed, my cats, my TV, just a sense of normalcy. When I was finally able to go home, after about 5 days I was sitting in the backyard, staring intently at my toes and, THEY WIGGLED! I could not tell if I was just losing my mind because I had been staring at my toes for so long, but it was real, my toes were really wiggling! There are so many little muscles in your legs that help you move and stand up straight that I did not even know existed until I had to reactivate them to respond to me.
After that moment I have been gaining my strength and balance back in my legs and lower torso, however it has been a very tedious objective not only physically challenging but immensely emotionally challenging as well. If it were not for my best friend, my parents, and my sister I have no idea if I would have the strength to move forward without their support. Taking on the job of being my taxi when needed, my therapist, grabbing things for me, lifting me when needed, all while they continue to work their jobs and live their own lives as well.
Since my diagnosis people have shown their truest colors, those that can manage friending and loving someone who is disabled and those who cannot. I was twenty-two at my prime, working hard and loving life when suddenly those opportunities slipped through my fingers and I woke up almost blind on navigating my new life, now at 24 years old I have learned and grown so much and continue to do so. Being disabled does not mean my life stops, I should not feel all eyes on me when I go to a restaurant in a wheelchair because having a disability does not mean I cannot live a normal life or feel normal around others.
It is important to me and the MS community to shed light on this disease and what we can to do to further advance research and knowledge around MS to continue the conversation. My story does not end here, I am happy, healthy, fulfilled and surrounded by an immeasurable amount of love and support... Research continues to evolve every day as our day and age grows more advance in technology and science, currently there is a stem cell treatment that has demonstrated enormous potential to help improve symptoms and stabilize further progression. Not only does this treatment help increase energy, flexibility, but it will advance my mobility, strength, and control of basic function to my legs.
Some data is begging to show the stem cell treatment may have the ability to halt my disease progression for an extended period, cell regeneration isa huge key to my specific MS and why this treatment is so imperative to me. So, if you are interested in learning more about Multiple Sclerosis, how to advocate, educate, get involved please visit the links below. If you also want more information on stem cell therapy and how to support, my journey on seeking out this treatment again visit the links below.
I cannot wait for the future! Good things are soon to come!
Information on MS/Get Involved-
· https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Get-Involved/Advocate-for-Change
· https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Get-Involved/Raise-Awareness
· https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/What-Causes-MS
Stem Cell Therapy/DVC-
· https://www.dvcstem.com/
· https://www.dvcstem.com/conditions/multiple-sclerosis
· https://www.dvcstem.com/faq
My life recently changed forever when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was taken completely back to square one of basic living. But before we get into that lets talk about what Multiple Sclerosis is, MS is a disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord which makeup the central nervous system and controls everything we do.
The exact cause of MS is unknown, but we do know that something triggers the immune system to attach the brain and spinal cord. The resulting damage to myelin, the protective layer insulating wire-like nerve fibers, disrupts signals to and from the brain. The interruption of communication signals causes unpredictable symptoms such as numbness, tingling, mood changes, memory problems, pain, fatigue, blindness and/or paralysis. Everyone’s experience with MS is different and these losses may be temporary or long lasting.
I spent 2 months in the hospital the summer of 2019, starting in June, a week and a half in the main hospital and a month and a half in the rehab facility. I had lost the ability to even move my legs, my arms had side effects as well as I could not feed myself for a month. The rehab really helped me rebuild the strength I had in my arms and upper body, but my legs were still lifeless. It began to look like this was going to be my new normal…
I was so excited and ready to leave the hospital and the food behind, I missed my bed, my cats, my TV, just a sense of normalcy. When I was finally able to go home, after about 5 days I was sitting in the backyard, staring intently at my toes and, THEY WIGGLED! I could not tell if I was just losing my mind because I had been staring at my toes for so long, but it was real, my toes were really wiggling! There are so many little muscles in your legs that help you move and stand up straight that I did not even know existed until I had to reactivate them to respond to me.
After that moment I have been gaining my strength and balance back in my legs and lower torso, however it has been a very tedious objective not only physically challenging but immensely emotionally challenging as well. If it were not for my best friend, my parents, and my sister I have no idea if I would have the strength to move forward without their support. Taking on the job of being my taxi when needed, my therapist, grabbing things for me, lifting me when needed, all while they continue to work their jobs and live their own lives as well.
Since my diagnosis people have shown their truest colors, those that can manage friending and loving someone who is disabled and those who cannot. I was twenty-two at my prime, working hard and loving life when suddenly those opportunities slipped through my fingers and I woke up almost blind on navigating my new life, now at 24 years old I have learned and grown so much and continue to do so. Being disabled does not mean my life stops, I should not feel all eyes on me when I go to a restaurant in a wheelchair because having a disability does not mean I cannot live a normal life or feel normal around others.
It is important to me and the MS community to shed light on this disease and what we can to do to further advance research and knowledge around MS to continue the conversation. My story does not end here, I am happy, healthy, fulfilled and surrounded by an immeasurable amount of love and support... Research continues to evolve every day as our day and age grows more advance in technology and science, currently there is a stem cell treatment that has demonstrated enormous potential to help improve symptoms and stabilize further progression. Not only does this treatment help increase energy, flexibility, but it will advance my mobility, strength, and control of basic function to my legs.
Some data is begging to show the stem cell treatment may have the ability to halt my disease progression for an extended period, cell regeneration isa huge key to my specific MS and why this treatment is so imperative to me. So, if you are interested in learning more about Multiple Sclerosis, how to advocate, educate, get involved please visit the links below. If you also want more information on stem cell therapy and how to support, my journey on seeking out this treatment again visit the links below.
I cannot wait for the future! Good things are soon to come!
Information on MS/Get Involved-
· https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Get-Involved/Advocate-for-Change
· https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Get-Involved/Raise-Awareness
· https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/What-Causes-MS
Stem Cell Therapy/DVC-
· https://www.dvcstem.com/
· https://www.dvcstem.com/conditions/multiple-sclerosis
· https://www.dvcstem.com/faq
Organizer
Sarah Sondergaard
Organizer
Reno, NV