Jamie's Road To Recovery
Donation protected
On May 12th my day started like every other day. Things were great…It was Friday, payday. I was ready for my 5 week weigh in at the gym for the program I was enrolled in. And had already chosen my three main runs/dashes for the summer and was building all my crews.
That morning at work we started off doing a stretch. I noticed my right thigh and lower leg were numb. Working medical I thought it was crazy and tried to dismiss the symptoms. By that afternoon, I was off work and my symptoms had then spread to other leg and up to my rib cage. I was shocked and scared at that point and went to the hospital. I was still in disbelief to what was really happening.
Scans showed something in my thoracic area. A demyelinating lesion at T7. However, they did not feel that was the cause of my symptoms. I was admitted to hospital and placed on steroid infusions to try to keep my spinal cord swelling down. More tests, scans and then a spinal tap. My symptoms were getting worse. I had no feeling from my rib cage down. My arms and legs were weak, I had blurred vision and loss of taste. By the 8th day of infusions I was even worse. My body was shot. Many of you were there and helped me. I thank you. At one point though, I shut a lot of people out. It was truly only because of my illness. For many weeks I could barely lift my head to eat let alone hold a conversation with you.
The results came in and I have Transverse Myelitis. It is extremely rare. A few months back I was sick with influenza and from that I had a mono-phasic reaction in which I got a different viral infection in my spinal cord that sat there dormant for a couple months before attacking my spinal cord. I am on week 4 of recovery. Unfortunately this is something I will live with forever. Currently the doctors give me a 90% recovery rate but I expect better. They say with this illness you know where you stand recovery wise around the 12 week mark. So, I am giving it my all to recover fully.
With this I am reaching out for a hand. It is difficult for me to ask for help! That is the reason it has taken me so long to type this. I will be off of work for the next couple months doing aggressive physical therapy and acupuncture. I am asking for your help to lighten the burden of incoming medical expenses and bills.
With love and thanks!
Jamie
That morning at work we started off doing a stretch. I noticed my right thigh and lower leg were numb. Working medical I thought it was crazy and tried to dismiss the symptoms. By that afternoon, I was off work and my symptoms had then spread to other leg and up to my rib cage. I was shocked and scared at that point and went to the hospital. I was still in disbelief to what was really happening.
Scans showed something in my thoracic area. A demyelinating lesion at T7. However, they did not feel that was the cause of my symptoms. I was admitted to hospital and placed on steroid infusions to try to keep my spinal cord swelling down. More tests, scans and then a spinal tap. My symptoms were getting worse. I had no feeling from my rib cage down. My arms and legs were weak, I had blurred vision and loss of taste. By the 8th day of infusions I was even worse. My body was shot. Many of you were there and helped me. I thank you. At one point though, I shut a lot of people out. It was truly only because of my illness. For many weeks I could barely lift my head to eat let alone hold a conversation with you.
The results came in and I have Transverse Myelitis. It is extremely rare. A few months back I was sick with influenza and from that I had a mono-phasic reaction in which I got a different viral infection in my spinal cord that sat there dormant for a couple months before attacking my spinal cord. I am on week 4 of recovery. Unfortunately this is something I will live with forever. Currently the doctors give me a 90% recovery rate but I expect better. They say with this illness you know where you stand recovery wise around the 12 week mark. So, I am giving it my all to recover fully.
With this I am reaching out for a hand. It is difficult for me to ask for help! That is the reason it has taken me so long to type this. I will be off of work for the next couple months doing aggressive physical therapy and acupuncture. I am asking for your help to lighten the burden of incoming medical expenses and bills.
With love and thanks!
Jamie
Organizer and beneficiary
Mariah Wunderlich
Organizer
Salem, OR
Jamie Wunderlich
Beneficiary
