WE MOVE
204 West 84th Street
New York, NY 10024
E-mail: wemove@wemove.org
wemove.org • mdvu.org
Jessica's Journey with Myolonic Dystonia. Searching for a diagnosis and then a cure.
Do not give up. There are others out there who have been where we are. I wish to be an example. Life does continue even with an illness. We hold on to each other for support and encouragement.
– Jessica Ward
I started to have tremors on my right side in high school. It was getting hard to write or hold any thing in my hand. The tremors kept increasing in intensity, my legs grew weak and heavy. My gait was terrible.I was shaking so severely all over my body that I hated to leave the house, I was teased and stared at. I felt ugly. I was beginning to think I was going to die at a young age, By age 23, I was disabled but, had no diagnosis. I was on a walker or a cane. The spasms, cramps, tremors and pain were unbearable at times. In 2007, I was diagnosed with Myoclonic Dystonia. Anti-seizure meds and Valium were my everyday regime. May of 2008, I had the deep brain stimulation surgery done. It was my last resort. I wanted to live my life and be rid of the pain and severe depression. Since the surgery, the tremors have decreased in intensity and the cramps and spasms have improved. I do continue to have good and bad days. My depression has improved. I walk well without a walker or cane, My gait has improved greatly. I am not falling over as often. I do fall occasionally, but, I call this clumsiness, It has been a long, trying road to find a diagnosis and to find the right doctors who knew what I was suffering with. I am happy to have had the surgery. I am especially happy to be happy and enjoying my life again.
