I was that normal “girly” girl growing up. I had tons of friends and was very family oriented. My family is big on holidays. We always cooked up enough food to feed the neighborhood; just a really good time. Early stages of life usually mean no worries but for me, it was life changing.
I started to worry because my body did not feel right. I thought it was normal preteen body changes at first – I was 12 – but something was off and I didn’t want to worry my family. My first symptom was losing sensation in my abdomen area.
The best way to describe it was my stomach felt asleep. I finally told my mom and she kept a close eye on me.
My next symptom was my vision started to become very blurry. My mom took me to the eye doctor and was given a new prescription for glasses. This went on for a couple of months and then everything began to move quickly.
It was the holiday season, as well as my birthday. I was always extremely tired. When my mom woke me up for school, I could barely stay awake long enough to take a shower.
My parents and grandmother took me to the doctor and they found nothing wrong. One ER doctor even told my parents that “it may be something psychologically wrong with your daughter.” Thank God they knew better.
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As weeks went by, my health started to decline quickly. I had missed numerous days of school and I didn’t have any energy to celebrate my birthday or Christmas. I could not walk, I had lost so much weight and had been to my pediatrician office so many times.
My parents demanded answers and finally my pediatrician started to connect the dots. He pricked my feet and legs and I felt nothing. He told my mom and dad I needed to see a neurologist today.
I went to see a neurologist that day and finally we were getting some answers. He suspected that I had multiple sclerosis. I had to do a spinal tap and sent home to wait. The next day, I was taken to emergency because I tried to get out of the bed and just fell flat because I could not feel my legs.
Although this was 10 years ago, I can remember it like it was yesterday.
They did a three part MRI and we got the confirmation that I would live the rest of my life with this disease.
I didn’t know what to think because I was just a kid. I wanted to be normal and have friends and go to school like I used to do. I didn’t know much about MS except for the fact that it took my old life away and that really scared me.
After five days of steroid infusions and months of intense physical and speed therapy, I was slowly beginning to feel like the old me. I learned that I would begin to give myself injections which didn’t make me happy.
Although I had a lot of support, I still felt alone. I kept going into this dark place but my faith in God and family made me tell myself “Amber you can beat this.” I decided my life is so much more than I am willing to give to this disease.
So I was home schooled for the rest of my junior high year. I graduated from high school on time in 2011 and went on to my first year of college. I took another direction in studies and now I am 22 and a full-time nursing student.
I am very active in the MS community such as walks, seminars and social media. I want to let people living with MS know that you are not alone. There is nothing like the support of your family and friends. Know your body and trust what it is telling you. When your body is tired, let it rest. Learn your symptoms and join a support group.
From my experience and being depressed, I know what a person with MS goes through and I want you to know that we are in this together and I have so much in store for the future.
I can have a career, get married, be a mom. I can add something positive and great to the world.
You can, too.
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