Subj: Introduction Story Date: 9/22/98 4:34:21 PM EST From: Sarah0069(AT)aol.com To: bucky(AT)tarheel.net CC: tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com -------------------- From: Sarah0069(AT)aol.com Return-path:To: bucky(AT)tarheel.net Subject: Introduction Story Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 18:36:07 EDT Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit In a message dated 98-09-15 14:34:58 EDT, you write: << Hey, my name is Michael Webb. >> Hi Michael. My name is Sarah. I am 17 years old and a senior in high school. I also have Transverse myelitis as you do. Mine is not as severe as yours. I have had TM for 2 years now. Since 1996 when I just couldn't get up one day. I told my dad the night before that it hurt to walk and he didn't believe me. Then the next morning I couldn't even get up. I went histerical. He didn't believe me at first until he told me to get up and he could tell that I was really trying. My sister and my dad took me to the emergency room and the doctors there thought that I was on some kind of drug because I was laughing (trying to keep from crying). I was so scared. I thought that they were just going to give me some kind of medicine and send me home but then they told me I had to stay. I was in the hospital for 3 weeks. It took them at least 3-4 days to figure out what was wrong with me. i had MRI after MRI and spinal taps. Gosh those spinal things hurt, it wasn't bad since I couldn't feel that much. I went through one year of physical therapy. I love my therapist. She tought me how to try and not to give up hope. I can walk now but people say that I have a limp. I have to wear a brace on my left leg for foot drop. I used to be in cheerleading and do lots of after school activities. Now I can't keep up with all of my friends. At least we are all here, is what I say to myself everyday. I am looking forward to talking to you and seeing the different things that we can share with eachother. Sarah Sullivan Norwalk, Iowa