My MS Story

My life had been composed of an over ten-year career of Firefighting/paramedics which I loved, then one day in the middle of May 2018; I started having more and more symptoms of migraines. I did not realize something severe was taking place in my body. A few months prior to that I had suffered double pneumonia, and my immune system wasn’t what I thought it was supposed to be. I began finding myself becoming more and more tired all the time.

Granted; I had pushed myself as I always have. This was a lesson I had been taught coming from a long lineage of two very strong Native American backgrounds. Both, one Paiute from California and the other Aleut from Alaska; showing me stopping to rest was not an option. I had been the sole provider of my family for years at this point. Working full-time and managing severe migraines since the age of 7 was a chore. I had recently realized after watching both of my parents suffer through severe illness, that “I CAN DO THIS”.

I had to then start in a new career at the Indian Health Facility that I work at now. I was suffering the constant aura, spotty vision, and then loss of sight in one eye. This continued until the devastating day I walked directly into a brick wall I knew was there in the days before losing all my sight.

That was my wakeup call…something is wrong. I had just completed my yearly eye exam and visual field test (as per requirements of my neurologist). Everything was fine. How could anything be wrong at this point? Right? Wrong! On completion of my visual field exam that day, (Thinking I had been trying to see through one eye), past the aura of a migraine. I had been looking through a periscope in a matter of speaking.

Then, my Optometrist says “Mel, I need to speak with your neurologist. An MRI is what I am recommending be done as soon as possible.” My thoughts were “ok, this isn’t my first rodeo”. MRI’s for anyone that suffers severe migraines, are a dime a dozen. I also lost over 140 lbs. in less than a month with no explanation, my diet hadn’t changed.

The next morning, I went in for my initial MRI at the local hospital. Wandering aimlessly as not being able to see anything, confused, and because my eyes itched as things were blooming and would water when I yawned. There just wasn’t any picture.

The results came in…“You have Multiple Sclerosis!” What’s that mean? “You are going to be flown out to the nearest neurology wing at Loma Linda Medical Center. There you’re going to start medication that we can hopefully get to restore your vision, BUT there isn’t any guarantee…”

At this point, the Doctor excused himself from my exam room He was readying paperwork for the staff at the Medical Center. I just sat there, holding back every ounce of fear that wanted to take ahold of me.

Within two weeks’ time, I had endured my first primary treatments of Solumedrol and Ocrevus. I had thought the worse was over, until the wrecking ball hit my whole world completely. It was only two weeks after that, my ex-husband walked out on my two sons, ages 11 and 13 and I. What a scenario, me blind and finding out what true pain was and thinking, “I CAN DO THIS.”

At my next check-up with the doctor, he had learned of everything that had taken place in my life and was wanting me to take the temporary disability. That is when I informed my Doctor, he had misdiagnosed me. MS didn’t mean what he kept telling me. It meant that I was Mighty Strong, and I was going to show him just how STRONG I was!

And here I stand today, I have my vision back, not in a place where I am supposed to be according to the medical world and to my form of Multiple Sclerosis. I am still going, and wanting to share all I can, with what I have. It took me two weeks of sick paid leave, and then I was back at work, showing how you do things without vision. I am proud to be where I am today; volunteering at numerous National Multiple Sclerosis Society events, IConqureMS, becoming an MSActivist, and having so much fun with the MS4MS and DunkMS events, advocating awareness anywhere and everywhere, not just in my local community where there wasn’t any knowledge, or resources.

With help of my sister and now my husband Kirk (who you may see at MS events in an orange cowboy hat ringing his cowbell) we have been able to bring MS Awareness and resources to local patients, in the small community where we live, by starting MightyStrongMS. The closest major specialist facility is between 4 to 5 hours driving either north, south, east, or west; so being able to bring hope in the form of some MS Awareness to our local California communities has been so amazing and uplifting for someone who just loves to see others smile, through anything.

Both the boys have grown up quite well, the oldest is now a United States Marine and the youngest sidekick is about to graduate high school and plans to follow in his brothers’ footsteps on to a great future.

Life didn’t turn out as planned, however through it all MS has taught me to live a grateful life every day. I have friends that have asked for information in the US Virgin Islands via my MightyStrongMS attitude, as well as across parts of Canada, Alaska, Montana, Nevada, Washington, and so much farther than that. MS didn’t define me, and it never will. I may not remember everything, as that is one of the only lasting symptoms I hold at this time along with pain every day. I was made #MIGHTYSTRONGMS for a reason, to be there to support and offer strength for others going through this journey with me and others…Nothing has stolen my fight, or my smile, and Nothing will…