My little one was a preemie, born at 32 weeks and 5 days. He fit in the palm of my hands. I was so afraid to hold him because he was so tiny. He is my only child, and our bond is tight, even though we may not always see eye to eye.
Being a single mom is challenging enough, but adding any illness, especially a chronic one, makes it an even tougher battle. That’s what was thrown my way at the age of 33. My baby was just two years old. I was in school full time, and trying to manage school duties, mommy duties, and my health was quite the task.
Well, one by one, things began to happen out of nowhere. I would walk out the door and fall. Walk across the grass and fall. At the time, I blamed it on my new shoes. I was in school, barely able to keep my eyes open for finals. My vision had begun to become very blurry, even with my glasses on. Then, my walking became affected. I dragged my left foot until it got to the point where I wasn’t able to stand on my own. I ended up borrowing my grandmother’s walker.
I was extremely weak and extremely fatigued. My speech was slurred, and I couldn’t swallow on my own without choking, so my mom had to prepare my food pureed and my liquids thickened. I couldn’t feed myself. I couldn’t do anything for myself. I told my sister I needed her to take my son because I thought I was dying.
They only gave me a CT scan and basically told us it was all in my head – as if I was making up my symptoms.
I had a doctor at the time who wasn’t very helpful. She finally ordered an MRI but wouldn’t say what it showed. The one hospital here wasn’t much help either. They only gave me a CT scan and basically told us it was all in my head – as if I was making up my symptoms.
The second hospital I was taken to a week later required me to remain there until they got me admitted into the best teaching hospital in Northeast Ohio. From there, I was transported by ambulance. I received the best care there. I received my actual diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (after an MRI of my brain and spine), and spinal fluid was taken from my spine (I can’t recall the exact term). My healing there began immediately, thanks to receiving Solu-Medrol and lots of prayers.
From the hospital, I couldn’t go directly home. I needed rehabilitation. I was admitted into a local inpatient rehabilitation hospital to help me learn to walk again and how to care for myself, my son, how to drive, and everything else. In the back of my mind was my baby. I knew he was home waiting for me, and I couldn’t wait to get home to him.
When it was time to be discharged, they wanted to wheel me out, but I said no, I wanted to walk. They allowed me to walk to my mom’s car, holding onto the wheelchair, and I was so proud of myself. From that moment, I knew I could do anything and was NOT going to let MS hold me back.
That was almost 13 years ago. I have my moments where I’m not as strong, but I’m still fighting 💪🏾 for myself and my son. MS will NOT win!
By Shereese H.
Learn More
Learn more about Shereese’s journey and struggles living with MS on the below article, video, and podcast:
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/11/27/668663222/chronically-ill-traumatically-billed-123-019-for-2-multiple-sclerosis-treatments
https://youtu.be/__xDDQ3EY9E
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1822095/10999340
