Scottie Burns
Diagnosis: Transverse Myelitis
United States
On October 3rd, 2017, I was at work when I noticed a burning pain in the upper part of my right thigh and then it started to go numb. The numbness went down my right leg. I informed my supervisor that something was not right, and I was going to the office to sit down. The office was about 30 feet away from where I was. By the time that I made it to the office, my right foot was dragging behind me as I walked, and 10 minutes after sitting down, I tried to stand up and fell to the floor. I had lost the use of both legs.
When all this started, I was showing someone how to do something at work, and I was going to time him. It was 4:02 p.m. It took 18 minutes for me to go from leading a normal life to leading a life of not being able to walk, work, or provide for my family. I cannot drive a car, and the hardest part of all this is not being able to work. I am 42-years-old and I have worked construction for 27 years and was a firefighter for 16 years. Now, I am not able to work or help my wife around the house. My wife is working two jobs just to pay the bills and make the rent. The hardest part of this is feeling like less of a man and being a burden to everyone, but I am hopeful that I will walk again sometime soon. I am hopeful that I will lead a normal life again someday.
Scottie Burns
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