I was diagnosed with NMO August 2nd, 2009. It all started in my opinion nerve in my left eye. Every time I had a flare up I would have IV prednisone and that would help. I Hasan MRI of my brain to see if I had MS. That came back negative. This all started in January 2009 till August when I woke up and was paralyzed. It progressed very rapidly. I was 30 years old turned 31 August 25th. In 2009 there were only 600 cases worldwide. My life changed literally overwhelming. My daughters were 9 and 7 when this happened. I had to be strong for them and figure out how to be a mom in my new body. I became a single mother in 2012 when he decided he couldn’t handle it anymore. I was devastated. We were together 13 years. I once again was faced with another challenge how was it going to raise 2 children being paralyzed. I had my parents thankfully but I was determined to do this on my own. It’s 2022 my daughters are now 21 and 19 years old. I survived the ” HORRIBLE ‘ teenage years when raising girls. They both graduated from high school. The women they are today is because of me. They will tell you the same thing. I had to be mother and father. How we deal with my disease is a lot of laughter and making fun of the fact i can not walk. They are my best friends and I would not change it for anything else

I am 43 going on 44 years old.  I have good and bad days still but because of my daughters they help me to keep on living my life. The 3 of us do not know what to do with out each other.