Support Nalah's Battle Against Myositis

Hey there! My name is Nalah (the lion king pronunciation). I'm an Ohio native, a social butterfly (24 years old), a dog mom, and I work as a florist while pursuing my BSN in nursing school.

I need your Help

Now reaching out to the community, family, and friends for help to fight the ongoing medical expenses and ensure I can continue receiving the necessary treatments while healing from my recent diagnosis of Inflammatory Polymyositis.

In May 2024, I started experiencing a lot of back pain and swelling around my lower spine. I had four back-to-back fevers in a week. I felt weak, exhausted, and just did not feel like myself. Finally, my urine turned orange/brown during the busiest weekend for a florist…Mother's Day Weekend. I pushed through for my mom's sake and was sent to the ER from urgent care for a possible kidney stone/mild kidney infection. After eight hours in the ER, I was diagnosed with a UTI that possibly spread to the kidneys. I was put on an antibiotic for 10 days and was told to follow up with pulmonary because of a strange pattern found in my CT scan developing on my lungs.

Well, I was misdiagnosed…

In the following weeks, the swelling in my lower back became worse. I started to lose strength and mobility in my shoulders, hips, and even my mouth/face. I basically started to become a paraplegic. I needed help getting off of the toilet, couch, and even getting in/out of the car. I couldn’t brush my hair, get dressed, or shower/bath. It was painful to walk and move around. Just going up/down the stairs was the most taxing movement.

Working became impossible to the point my boss started sending me home and having me come in less. I couldn’t lift anything more than 10 pounds…

Over Memorial weekend, my feet swelled to the point of turning a purple tone. I couldn’t find anywhere in the side effects of the antibiotic I was taking that this was normal or the other symptoms I was experiencing.

So, I went back to the ER and was immediately admitted to the hospital…I had developed severe Rhabdomyolysis. (My CK value was 30k). The swelling and my condition got ugly before anything became pretty again. I was in the hospital for almost a week…

Finally, after many abnormal blood tests, CT scans and an EMG, I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Myositis. It’s a rare autoimmune disease that attacks your muscles. All my important mobility muscles broke down and were poisoning my kidneys with their decay protein (CK). I started treatment in the hospital, and once my CK levels started to go down, I was discharged.

Talk about traumatizing, I'm still processing all this…

The road to recovery is LONG but we are on it and moving! I have to continue my IVIG treatment every month, steroid regimen, and eventually immune suppressant to keep this disease at bay while trying to regain my muscles back and joint strength back with help of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.

Even with Financial help from the hospital and insurance, my extended stay and treatment were needless to say EXPENSIVE. Not to mention transportation to/from multiple appointments and PT/OT, Medications, and Living cost. My inability to work while trying to heal has been a tremendous hardship.

I am thankful and appreciate you taking the time to let me share my story with you.

Any contribution, big or small, would mean the world to me and help me get closer to a healthier future

If you don’t feel comfortable donating monetarily, I totally understand:

•Let’s make a meal together

• Drop off sanitary items or meals

•Come get me! Let’s go outside (have handicap parking)!

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, words of encouragement and prayers.

Love all of you

and thank you <3