In November 2018, I started having issues with blurred vision and other visual impairments. I mocked it up as my eyes adjusting to the new season. Snow outside, very bright, followed by coming inside to a darker setting.

After 3 days, I noticed a larger, more inconvenient issue. While playing freecell, I had the sudden realization that I was unable to read the numbers of the cards while looking directly at them. Look slightly to the left or right, and I saw it clear as day, directly at it and nothing.

So, I made a doctors appointment with an optometrist. While awaiting my appointment which was scheduled a week after my making it, I noticed the blind spot get bigger and more defined. 

Picture yourself looking directly at the sun, then looking at an object. That is what my eye was seeing, only it was a constant state.

After the appointment, my optometrist seemed less than optimistic and said she'd have to refer me to a specialist. A week later, I received no call. Frustrated, I began calling every day or two in an attempt to get in touch with someone who could tell me what was going on.

Then on Dec. 11, at about 8pm, vision in my right eye fell drastically and rapidly. I would say in an hour it went from 80% vision to 40% in a matter of hours. With that, I got a pounding headache and a throbbing discomfort in my arm. Being the idiot that I am, I messaged my girlfriend at work (She works at a hospital) and told her I wasn't feeling well and was gonna lay down. She relayed my symptoms to the doctor on her floor, who informed her to have me get the ER as soon as possible. My father rushed me in. Stroke alert. They gave me a CT scan, EEG, the works. After finding nothing life threatening, the referred me to a specialist th enext day.

A week later I received a MRI and today, I got the results. I have lesions on my brain. They seem to be located on "white matter" areas of my brain. The doctor gave me the hard truth that it is a very good indicator that I may have MS.

I am now being referred to a neurologist to confirm.

At this point we are still unsure what exactly this ailment is. But all signs are pointing to MS. 

For those that don't know, MS is a treatable, but incurable disease.  It can effect senses, muscles strength, coordination... basically everything your body does. 

At this stage it seems like if I do have MS we have caught it very early, which is a bit of good news, and becasue we have caught it early, it is likely my vision issues will be mostly temporary.

 

The bad news, my blindness and headaches has gotten to the point were I am unable to work, drive or enjoy most of my hobbies for more than a half hour or so.

No phone, limited TV, very limited CPU time, if any. I also have trouble doing things that involve a lot of visual stimulation. For example, shopping, I have a hard time seeing everything on the shelves and it blurs together. If I got to spice rack and look for paprika, it will take me twenty minutes just to find a bottle with something red in it, and another 10 to read the bottle.

I do have good days and bad days, my vision fluctuates. But my hopes are high that this is temporary and treatable.

 

I'm asking for help because my girlfriend (fiance) and I are expecting in late march. I was under the impression that I would be working my ass off right now to prepare for a new baby, but instead I am sitting at home without a hobby or the ability to work. We need money to get us through these months of unknown where I don't know where our income will come from. We are working on savings right now that may get us through January, if that. Luckily most of my medical bills have been covered, but there will be some expenses that will not be. I have no idea the amounts or how long I will be unable to help my family. I used the amount based solely on the fact that I know we can make it a few months of it. I have no idea how much or little we will actually need.

This is the scariest time of my life, and my pride is taking a huge blow as well, as I never thought I'd every have to beg family or friends for an income. I thank you all for what you give and greatly appreciate it.

Update: Baby Quinton is here! Big thank you to those who have donated baby supplies!