The Beginning

It began as any other day...

September 21, 2004 - It started while I was showering. Upon washing my right leg with the wash cloth, I noticed a tingling throughout the leg. I brushed off the sensation like many men would, but then noticed the tingling in my left foot. After showering, I began shaving but noticed that my legs were becoming numb. I dressed, walked to the kitchen, did a Google look up of "leg numbness" and found a plethora of options. Walking back across the kitchen, I could tell that walking was becoming difficult. I called my physician, was instructed to go immediately to the hospital. I called Deborah to return home (she had already left for work). But, before she got home, I became paralyzed from the waist down and had to call 911 for help.

Within one hour, I went from being normal to not being able to walk with complete numbness from my waist down.

Transverse Myelitis is defined as an inflammatory disorder that affects a restricted area of the spinal cord. It is characterized by symptoms and signs of neurologic dysfunction in motor and sensory tracts on both sides of the spinal cord. Often this is associated with a clearly defined area of altered sensation on both sides of the body, weakness of both legs and sometimes the arms, and urinary or bowel dysfunction. The "transverse" reflects dysfunction at a particular level across the spinal cord, manifest as altered function below this level, and normal function above it.

According to The Department of Neurology Transverse Myelitis Center at Johns Hopkins Medical Center, “Transverse myelopathy is NOT a single disease and there is certainly no single cause of the disorder. Rather, there are a myriad of possible causes.

“In some cases, a recent infection may trigger an immune response that damages cells within the spinal cord. We do not know all of the infections capable of causing TM, nor do we know the mechanisms that cause some people to develop this immune attack while others with the same infection suffer no sequella.”

In other words, it is unknown what causes this affliction in 1-4 people per million population each year. It is a rare disorder.

After spending one week at Parkridge Hospital, receiving 500mg of steroids twice per day (the primary treatment for TM), I was transferred to Siskin Rehabilitation Hospital where I received 4 weeks of inpatient therapy. Seven weeks of outpatient therapy began on Monday, November 1, 2004. Upon entering Siskin, we were informed that 1/3 of all TM victims show no recovery, 1/3 some recover, and 1/3 near or complete recovery. God has been very gracious to me at this point. Besides walking with a walker, I now feel temperature, some "sharp vs. dull" sensations, and reflex reaction in both feet. This places me in the middle group at this time. Because this deals with nerves, it is totally God's will whether or not I continue to progress.

Deborah has been an inspiration and strength to me. God continues to bless as I recover. I am a blessed man.