A Woman of Many Titles....

by Casey
(Greenbrier, WV)

I went to College to major in Volleyball and Softball-Full ride actually. Then I was informed that my degree was actually an Associate in Occupational Therapy-haha. It worked out after all. =) After grad from college in 2006 I worked in Geriatrics until 2011.

I used to be so proud and my parents found great joy in saying "Oh-my daughter is a college athlete" and then, "Oh my daughter is an OT!" Now, not much is said and I find myself in less and less pictures with my family. Family stating I had changed so much??

I was beginning to be late for work more and more often, tired all the time. When you are a therapist and you work with other therapists; Speech therapists-Physical Therapists, they begin to analyze you. So during my last year of work my co-workers as well as myself noticed my short term memory was "struggling". Later I began to tear up..., cry for no reason.

We made fun of it for the most part... I had pain but thought it was from all those years of playing ball. Then one day I was working with a patient and I thought she was about to fall-she didn't, but where I flinched so quickly I struck something in my back-electric shock!

So with everything in place I got MRI's. All with and without contrast - together there was 8 total - from my brain>cervical>thoracic>lumbar. I picked up the records not expecting to read what I read -knowing the medical terminology - I read Multiple Sclerosis on EVERY SINGLE ONE! Counting 7 lesions on my brain along with herniated/bulging discs,and spinal cord compression.

This began a 4 month leave from work to be sure of this diagnosis - I am so grateful that my eyes were and have not been effected. I took Physical Therapy-passed all the requirements - But upon my return to work where I had been for 4 years - this huge "therapy" Company had me back for 32 days and gave me no option but to move immediately to another facility where I could work 32 hr/wk verses 40/wk - I never realized 8 hours less a week was that terrible-when they were making us go home for lack of work already.

I am fighting for my rights-my letter of determination comes from the