Eric is my 33-year-old son, and he’s been facing a life-changing health crisis for over a year. After a sudden bout of pneumonia, Eric lost the ability to walk and began experiencing severe pain and neuropathy in his legs. Please see updates!

A Miracle in the Making

I want to start by saying how beyond lucky I am to have the love and support of my family and friends. I’m a survivor—like the lion bitten by a poisonous snake. I’m in pain, but I will survive. With my amazing, supportive, loving wife; my two incredible parents; and my rockstar sister, even on the hardest days I still feel like I can conquer the world.

I’d like to share some backstory and an update, because many people don’t know what this journey has really looked like.

That appointment changed everything. After watching me walk down the hall, the doctor said words that brought me to tears: “This will get worse. You may never walk again. We need to act fast.” She ordered multiple MRIs, an EMG, physical therapy, IVIG infusions, muscle relaxers, and nerve medication for the burning, tingling, numbness, and sharp pain in my hands, feet, and toes.

The MRIs showed nothing—which could mean the episode had passed or gone dormant, but it didn’t give answers. The EMG, however, showed severe nerve damage and delayed nerve responses. For those who don’t know, an EMG involves needles and electrical shocks. I’d honestly take 100 of those over another MRI—and I’ll be repeating both many times on this journey.

By April, I had to take a leave of absence from work. Since my one-year mark wasn’t until July, it was unpaid. Medical bills, regular bills, and stress piled up quickly. My leg weakness worsened, and thankfully my in-laws stepped in and took incredible care of me. I’m forever grateful for their love and support.

I began falling—down stairs, in the shower, in the hallway. Each fall made things worse. For about three weeks in April, I was bedridden after severely injuring my ankle in a fall.

Money was tight, and I hated sitting still, so I went back to work. From April to July, I struggled every single day—physically and emotionally. I loved that job and gave it everything I had, I got let go.

Since then, I’ve seen two neurologists, two neuromuscular specialists, and been to Georgetown Hospital, University of Maryland, and Inova. I’ve had countless tests and medications, and we still don’t have clear answers.