In March of 2000, I was injured during a retail management career. Although I didn't know it at
time, this accident would change my life forever. Leaving work to go hospital, I had lost use of my entire right side. My limbs were completely numb. What a horrifying escapade. Once there, I was not given proper care which in turn led a spinal myelopathy at C-2 level of my spine. Little did they nor I know that a dislocated shoulder could do this severe damage. As time wore on, I continued to work with subluxation. Unbeknownst to me, this was further damaging spinal cord. After I had surgery to finally repair dislocation 6 months later, I suffered bad after-effects, including pluerisy and stomach lining destruction from all medications.
Eventually, they (physicians) realized that I wasn't getting any better. After numerous months of physical therapy, steroidal injections, too many anti-emflammatories, and dozens of doctor's visits, I was finally given an MRI.
The MRI showed that I had a lesion at C-2 level. Initially, radiologist had thought that I had suffered from one of two things: either I had a demylenating process such as Multiple Sclerosis, OR I had suffered remote trauma to spine from an injury.
Immediately following radiologist's opinion, my worker's compensation dropped me. They naturally assumed that all of my ailments were due to an MS diagnosis of a radiologist's opinion. Within two months following this MRI, I was critical. The same thing that happened to me day of my shoulder subluxation was happening again. This time, I was totally paralyzed.
Church members and family rallied for me and prayed for me. There I lie, in a cold hospital bed getting Solumedrol pumped into an IV. The next morning, I was sent home in a wheelchair. Unable to walk and barely had use of my arms. I had to continue IV treatment at home - but would it work? This, along with high doses of Prednisone, Neurontin and multiple other medications...I found myself two days later back in Emergency Room. This time, I nearly died.I had gone into Steroidal-induced seizures. I felt like a dying roach laying on a cold slab of steel. My legs and arms were shaking and jerking uncontrollably like leaves on a tree. This was definitely not supposed to happen. Had I waited much longer to go in, I may not have made it through morning. Disgusted, tired and filled full of anger, I wanted to die - until that day. When I saw death staring back at me.
