Transverse myelitis awareness
Im James from Nottinghamshire and im 33, 3 years ago I got pneumonia and pluerisy and was poorly for about 6 weeks in total, this then led to transverse myelitis which overnight led to nerve damage and partial paralysis. At the time I was told I had a 30 % chance of walking again without walking aids or needing a wheelchair, my children at the time were aged 4 years old and 5 months old which made it even tougher to accept, but this was a major inspiration to keep me going. To help diagnose it they did a number of MRI scans , blood tests and a test of my spinal fluid.
It happens when the immune system attacks the body in the spinal cord causing a lesion to develop there leading to nerve and muscle damage from that point in the spinal cord and below
After 1 and a half years of physio at Newark Hospital I began to walk further, gaining muscle that had been lost and I was able to begin golf again, a goal that helped to focus my recovery. Now I play off a 7 handicap and reached the semi finals of my club's match play competition.
I am doing the coast to coast walk which is 190 miles which will raise money for the charity Transverse Myelitis Society, I want to raise awareness of transverse myelitis which will hopefully help fund research and help other people with the condition to show there is hope with such a rare disease that is said to be one in a million to get. I really want to give other people with transverse myelitis hope, beleif and more awareness.
Transverse myelitis can happen to anybody at any time there is no known cause of it and also no cure, all that is available the moment are treatments to manage the side effects and to try and limit damage.
The charity I am raising money for does a great job helping people with the condition and they also try hard to create awareness.
Hopefully this does bring more awareness and help to people who have a rare disease, I have already been on BBC East Midlands Today with Rob Sissons and in the national papers in the hope it will help.
Any help would be fantastic and will make such a difference to those struggling.
Many thanks, James.
It happens when the immune system attacks the body in the spinal cord causing a lesion to develop there leading to nerve and muscle damage from that point in the spinal cord and below
After 1 and a half years of physio at Newark Hospital I began to walk further, gaining muscle that had been lost and I was able to begin golf again, a goal that helped to focus my recovery. Now I play off a 7 handicap and reached the semi finals of my club's match play competition.
I am doing the coast to coast walk which is 190 miles which will raise money for the charity Transverse Myelitis Society, I want to raise awareness of transverse myelitis which will hopefully help fund research and help other people with the condition to show there is hope with such a rare disease that is said to be one in a million to get. I really want to give other people with transverse myelitis hope, beleif and more awareness.
Transverse myelitis can happen to anybody at any time there is no known cause of it and also no cure, all that is available the moment are treatments to manage the side effects and to try and limit damage.
The charity I am raising money for does a great job helping people with the condition and they also try hard to create awareness.
Hopefully this does bring more awareness and help to people who have a rare disease, I have already been on BBC East Midlands Today with Rob Sissons and in the national papers in the hope it will help.
Any help would be fantastic and will make such a difference to those struggling.
Many thanks, James.
Organizer
James Hart
Organizer
THE TRANSVERSE MYELITIS SOCIETY
Beneficiary