I am a 59-year-old mail who was diagnosed in July 1998 with Syringomyelia from C-1 to T-8. When I was approximately 27 years old, I started to feel numbness in my belly and part of my head (right side), pain in my lower back and arms and also spasticity in my legs, arms, fingers, toes and eyes. But the doctors always treated me of arthritis, and lumbar conditions.
In 1995, I started to have problems with my right leg (limp), and I started to fall a lot. The symptoms of this condition started to stagger up, such as: spasticity, coordination, bladder and bowel problems, numbness, excruciating pain, and other. On July 1998 the doctor in VA Hospital, ordered a MRI of my spine and that’s when they knew what was happening. Immediately I underwent surgery for a laminectomy and placement of a subarachnoid shunt. On February 2001, I underwent another surgery, laminectomy with placement of a peritoneal shunt.
I have an incomplete paraplegia, which makes me ambulate in a wheelchair. In the moment I was diagnosed with this condition, I had a business, selling and repairing office equipment and I couldn’t work anymore. This at first was devastating for me, but I am a very Christian person and I have a great faith in my Lord, so I said to myself “this is not the end, this is the beginning of all the blessings that God has for me and my family.” So, I am a bible teacher in Sunday school at church. In 1999, I joined Paralyzed Veterans Association of Puerto Rico, as a member and volunteer, my wife is also volunteering as the Newsletter Editor of the organization and working in this organization has been a blessing for us. Actually I am Treasurer in the Board of Directors. I also had the opportunity to assist the 22nd National Veterans Wheelchair Games, where I competed in various sport games, winning a bronze medal in Nine Ball.
“So it’s impossible for a man to lose hope when he remembers that his helper is Almighty.”
“Paralysis cannot restrain or limit the human spirit.”
|
