The Opportunity in Disability

by Christine Messaros
(Austin, Tx)

When I became ill in the summer of 2006, a very close friend of mine said the key word essential to my surviving disability....Opportunity.

My story begins when I was 27 years old. Suddenly one day I woke up with acute dizziness and "Bells Palsy" and admitted to the hospital. From that day forward I was never the same. In a year and a half, I went to 11 doctors trying to get answers.

From age 30 to 40 I managed to find a way to "beat" whatever had happened to my body. Many doctors provided "their" diagnoses to include Multiple Sclerosis. Life got close to normal after I was prescribed a medication to control the seizures, head pain and visual issues.

In the summer of 2006 I turned 40, was elated with my 3 year old daughter, and boyfriend of 6 months. He became the love of my life. I was working full time as a Project Manager for AT&T but it became overwhelming and I recall telling people in the office "I feel strapped on the front of a freight train that is going full speed ahead and I can't slow it down".

With no warning, something became very wrong with my legs. The muscles were having a party inside, jumping around and causing pain. I started having petite-mal seizures, unable to tolerate any light or sounds. I ran into the walls and would forget the simplest task and slurring my words. My neurologist admitted me to the hospital for brain monitoring and audio/video around the clock to watch the seizures and determine if it was coming from the Central Nervous System. The conclusion after 5 days was nothing found. However, one male nurse, who to this day I call my "angel", had come into my room one night and mentioned something that just sent me into the world of answers. He mentioned the Herpes Zoster virus and how it can cause neuromuscular disorders.

WoW! Back when I was 27, the Cleveland Clinic theorized that the Herpes Zoster virus had settled in my left ear, causing the Bells Palsy. Herpes Zoster without a rash is rare but has been found to cause serious neurological problems. Immediately I called my neurologist and said let's check out this theory. He agreed and after reviewing my research, the doc agreed this was the post-infection of the virus and sent me to a doctor in town who specialized in this.

My parents had to take turns coming from Ohio to Texas where I lived, to help me take care of my 3 year old daughter, take me to dr. appts., get groceries, cook and all the daily household chores. For days on end, I laid in bed, and sometimes my dad said I was so out of it he was afraid the worst had happened. He would check to see if I was still breathing. I didn't drive a car for 3 months. I couldn't walk straight, and when I did walk it took great effort. Unable to watch TV, be on a computer and the most painful was I couldn't be around my daughter.

The new doctors started me on antivirals and other prescription medications to control the seizures and the head pain. They said when they first saw me I was on the verge of Grand Mal Seizures. They Ran several test that include memory, word retrieval, balance platform, eye performance and nerve hypersensitivity.

After 5 months I went back to work, but I was permitted to do so from home to give me the quiet environment and eliminate the fluorescent lighting. I struggled every day to get out of bed, get my daughter to daycare and start working. The stress of keeping up with all the demands wore on my body. By end of 2007 I started being so nauseated I lost 20 lbs. My doctor immediately gave me orders to stop working and to stay off the PC and phone. AT&T wanted the doctor to predict the end of my illness, but the doctor couldn't. The doctor believed that I had the Herpes Zoster virus go from dormant stage to active, however he felt an additional virus was also attacking my Peripheral Nervous System.

On March 27, 2008, I was terminated. I had worked for 21 years of my life and now I felt somehow that I had failed. My boyfriend became my biggest advocate along with my daughter. Additionally, AT&T LTD engaged a company called Allsup Inc. to seek my disability benefits.

Within 5 months Allsup successfully obtained my Social Security benefits along with my dependent benefit for my daughter. Allsup conducted all interviews with me over the phone and I never had to visit the Social Security office or obtain an attorney. If it had not been for AT&T and Allsup working together to help me, I know my road would have been considerably more difficult.

Opportunity? Yes, my good friend told me in the beginning of this journey, "find the opportunity". When I became focused on the “perceived” ugliness of my world, I decided to create a distraction. I created a business called Design Your Destiny. I am proud to be a member and affiliate of Disability Digest. Disability Digest found me somehow, and even though I don't remember how, it was another added benefit that God placed in my journey.

The Opportunity in this journey is not only that I created a business, and support network, but I became closer to who I was inside. Poetry became my therapy. Poetry gives me peace and solace. I no longer resist what situation I am in. I let go of fear: False Evidence Appearing Real. My goal is to be an advocate for others as I know how much it meant to me to have support on my new path. I am grateful mostly to God. Opportunity, yes, can be found but it only comes when we look away from the dark corner.

With appreciation to: Law of attraction courses, how to apply The Law of attraction, law of attraction