“Your Story with MS” is a idea of mine to share stories of others living with MS or know someone with MS. I wanted to get different views on how this disease effects so many people. I have had my husband and brother write blog entries and thought to expand this to many more!
I had the pleasure of meeting Ariana through the MSF Ambassador program. She and I have become great friends through text and facebook. She is one amazing gal, who I am so blessed to have met. Thank you Ariana for taking the time to be my first entry of “Your Story of MS!”
My Story With MS.
By: Ariana Deming
This is my story, Thank You, Marci Viland for asking me to write this for your website!
I’ve been living with daily headaches since I was 9 years old, that is when all this started and since then, I do not remember a day without pain. At first the headaches were only seasonal and then they became every day. I went to see my regular doctor, she put me on medicine, and I had so much of it that I ended up getting rebound headaches. Rebound headaches are headaches from being over medicated. November of 2007 I went to the ENT doctor, he said it was my sinuses, so I had sinus surgery. That didn’t help with anything. So the next step was to see a neurologist.
I went to the neurologist for the first time in 2008, he was an adult neurologist so he didn’t know how to treat me; I was only 15, I was still considered a kid. He ordered an MRI and I had many white spots on my brain, also known as lesions. He scheduled an emergency appointment for me at DuPont Children’s Hospital in Delaware to see the headache specialist on Monday, April 28th, 2008. Before I went down to DuPont, I had a spinal tap on Thursday, April 24th, 2008. A spinal tap or lumbar puncture is where they stick a needle in your lower back and draw spinal fluid out. On Sunday, April 27th, 2008 my mom, dad and myself traveled to Delaware. Even though I had an appointment the next day, I wasn’t even in DuPont for a few hours and I ended up at the ER. I didn’t realize that going to the ER that night was going to be a life changing event for so many different reasons. On Friday, May 2nd, 2008, I had my second spinal tap and then on Thursday, May 8th, 2008, I had my third. The doctors couldn’t figure out what was going on with me. I had more testing than I can remember. I have never experienced so much pain in my life.
I was in the hospital for a month, and one night I prayed to God, I said “God please help me. I can’t do this by myself. I need you, now more than ever, please come into my life.” I knew from that day on that God is always with me. God will help me through anything. If it wasn’t for my faith, I would not be able to handle this as strongly as I do. ?? After having 19 IV’s and going through so much, we were finally leaving the hospital!
On Thursday, June 12th, 2008, we went to an MS center in Buffalo, NY at 15 years old, I was diagnosed with MS. I had no idea what it was, I never heard of it. I knew I was going to let MS change me, but I was going to let it change me for the better! ???? There are times I say why me? Why now? But then I also say why not me? I have had MS for almost 6 years. Since being diagnosed, I have been on 6 different treatments. I could be mad at the world for everything I have been through, but that is the complete opposite. What I go through, I have so much strength, and so much love and I’m here to help people. I want to inspire people. I want someone to look at me and say, “because of you, I didn’t give up”! I want people to learn from me, that even when you are faced with a challenge no matter what it is, no matter how difficult it is, it is how you handle the storm that makes you who you are!
God didn’t give me strength to fight these battles, He is my strength! When I thought I could no longer go on. I DID NOT GIVE UP. Just recently, November 25th, 2013 (4 days before my 21st birthday), I had my first MRI since starting my new medication that I have been on since August…it was the best appointment that I have ever had! Even though I will have MS forever, I have not had any MS problems since the end of September (which is new for me because everyday something old or something new would be happing) I am in remission!!! I couldn’t be happier and I cannot thank God enough! One day, doctors will be able to find something for my headaches, but right now, I am just thrilled about my MS!
My advice is this: Never Give Up! Stay positive! Have faith that things will get better. Talk to others when you are having a difficult time handling things, or even when things aren’t so difficult, even if they may not understand what you are going through at least they can give you love and support! Share your story, you never know who it can inspire!
She has some amazing words, don’t you agree? Thanks for sharing Ariana! XO
