We never realize how lucky we are. 

The summer heading into my sophomore year I thought I had my whole life planned out. Things I would worry about then seem so little compared to what I have to worry about now. 

I remember the day my life started to cascade downwards. I was attending our annual summer cheer camp, as I was on the JV team, when I could barely hold my arms up in a cheer motion. I had thought I was just maybe tired from lack of training over the summer, however my condition only got worse. The next few weeks I found myself struggling to get off the ground, my legs randomly giving out, and not being able to lift my arm to brush my hair. 

I told my parents about my symptoms and their response was I needed to eat better but they would make an appointment at the doctor. I went to maybe four different doctors but no one had the answer. I was like a lost puppy dog as doctor after doctor referred me to another. 

One day it was too late, I woke up in the morning completely paralyzed. Telling your body to move but it will not is a whole other level of scary. I, of course, was rushed to the hospital and had a million tests done on me only to find out I had a rare autoimmune disease. The condition was Myasthenia Gravis: the immune system attacks the muscles to the point one is paralyzed. 

I would have never imagined hearing that news in a million years. I didn’t realize I had to be scared of not being able to walk one day. Life can change in an instant, and this quick massive change in my life made me realize we underestimate how lucky we are. We should be grateful every day, even for the littlest things, like walking.

Next week I will explain what came after that initial hospital visit. I can’t wait to continue to share my story with you! Remember our struggles don’t define us.