Posted by: The Sumaira Foundation in NMO, Patient.e, Voices of NMO
I was a 26 year old working in the Pentagon in the Navy Executive Dining Facility. I was Active Duty Navy for almost 8 years… On October 18, 2017, I had a colonoscopy because I was losing weight, bowels had blood and mucus coming out. After that, I start having a tingling in my thighs […]
Read MorePosted by: The Sumaira Foundation in NMO, Patient.e, Voices of NMO
Hello! My name is Joyce and I am from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My NMO symptoms started with loss of bladder control, stress inconvenience, irritable bowel with constipation, and sensation loss in my legs and arms. I also experienced severe migraines. Some of my migraines for last for days. I would see spots, have blurred vision, and […]
Read MorePosted by: The Sumaira Foundation in NMO, Patient.e, Voices of NMO
I’m Ilene, the youngest of seven children. I come from a family of school teachers and musicians. I love board games, musicals, plays, happy movies, skeet ball, Tower of Terror and having other people cook for me. My dream life was to be a pianist, a teacher, get married, travel, have children, be the fun […]
Read MorePosted by: The Sumaira Foundation in NMO, Patient.e, Voices of NMO
On Monday morning, Pam had a headache. For a woman who never got headaches, this was notable. In addition, when she turned her eyes right and left, she experienced eye pain. She took some ibuprofin, and went to the office, where she worked as a dental hygienist. On Friday, Pam had an existing appointment […]
Read MorePosted by: The Sumaira Foundation in NMO, Patient.e, Voices of NMO
Nothing can fell Marie. No matter the punches that NMO throws, Marie just gets up again and keeps on going. A strong young woman who has learned to live with blindness and many years in a wheelchair, Marie, now 26, has been living with NMO since the age of 14. Like for so many young […]
Read MorePosted by: The Sumaira Foundation in NMO, Patient.e, Voices of NMO
Jamie was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 35. Her condition was such that she didn’t need treatment, just monitoring. She was even healthy enough to have a second child. After the birth, though, she was put on Rituximab for the lymphoma, once a week for four weeks. Two years later, one night […]
Read MorePosted by: The Sumaira Foundation in NMO, Patient.e, Voices of NMO
This disease began with hiccups and vomiting 25+ times a day. I was certain that I had gotten food poisoning or had the flu. Later, I learned that things would get much worse before they got better. I could no longer work because it was difficult for me to even get out of bed. After […]
Read MorePosted by: The Sumaira Foundation in MOG, Patient.e, Voices of NMO
My entire life, I was always a healthy and energetic person… I have played tons of sports and never went to the doctor unless it was for a sports physical. I found joy in all of life’s beauties but I really fell in love with running. I joined as a sophomore and not only did I […]
Read MorePosted by: The Sumaira Foundation in NMO, Patient.e, Voices of NMO
Sumaira’s NMO Story From the Transverse Myelitis Association blog, In Their Own Words (October 4, 2018) My name is Sumaira and I am the founder and executive director of The Sumaira Foundation for NMO and Miss Bangladesh-USA 2015. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. It all started in June 2014. I was a perfectly […]
Read MorePosted by: The Sumaira Foundation in NMO, Patient.e, Voices of NMO
Here is my story of how I was diagnosed with Neuromyelitis Optica and just how scary it can be knowing that something is wrong but not being able to find out what that something is. I am not one to share my emotions. The last 15 months have harbored some of the scariest times of […]
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