Hi Stephanie,
I saw of posting by you on the quad message board. It caught my eye,
because I too, am a C4 -quad due to Transverse Myelitis,1 year post. Here is a
little about me and what I've been through.
My name is Naomi. I am 50 years old. I was stricken with TM on July 2,
2005. In a matter of minutes, I went from an active, working adult, to a flat
on my back, totally paralyzed, terrified patient. I was hundreds of miles
away from home at the time that this happened. I had to be flown by med-jet
nearly 2 hours to get home. When I awoke in ICU, I was on a ventilator and
paralyzed from the neck down. I had the steroid treatment (it drove me crazy
).
I also had the plasma exchange, after which I regained movement of my left
leg and partial movement of my left arm.
I had four months of occupational and physical therapy, while in the
hospital. I was discharged into a nursing facility, were I stayed for six
months
and I had occupational and physical therapy there for five of the six months.
I left the nursing facility and went into the hospital to have the Baclofen
pump put in, to control my spasticity. The pump has really helped me. I had
two months of occupational and physical therapy as an inpatient in the
hospital. I was discharged from the hospital to home, a place I hadn't been
in
over a year. While at home, I received outpatient therapy, at the hospital,
for nearly 6 months.
After over a year of therapy, I have not progressed much. My right side is
still totally paralyzed. I have been plagued with UTI's, dysreflexa,
positional vertigo, excruciating nerve pain, and problems with in-home help.
Needless to say, I had to give up my job. I was a Technical Instructor,
teaching
the installation of electrical equipment for our local utility company. I was
also attending Eastern Michigan University, majoring in Special Education,
Emotionally Impaired. I miss working and going to school, something terrible.
I am still working on getting more therapy and trying to gain more movement.
I thank God for what I have achieved so far, and know that every day is a
blessing. Keep the faith.
Naomi
