It's a long story ... but if you really want to hear it, here it is.
I had a perfectly normal birth, I sat up at the right time, I crawled at the right time, I just didn't walk at the right time. I learned to walk when I was about three years old. Since it took me so long to learn how to walk my parents took me to get an MRI of my brain. I know now that the MRI showed that nothing was wrong, but my parents told everyone that it was cerebral palsy (CP) so that I could get services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.).
From when I was three years old until first grade I could walk mostly on my own, and sometimes I needed someone's hand to hold on to. From first grade to third grade I used forearm crutches to help me walk. In third grade I got scared to use my crutches so I started using a walker. That's the year I had the most tests ever.
That year I had another brain MRI, two spinal MRIs, and a muscle biopsy. All came back negative for anything at all. After that, life went on and I just kept using my walker. And then, in sixth grade, I had this test where they stuck electrodes on my arms and legs to test my nerves. That test came back positive for Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT). But, usually you can see CMT in the blood and they couldn't see it in my blood, so, we're still unsure. That year I also had another spinal MRI that, once again, came back negative.
I've also had three surgeries. I had one surgery on my feet and legs, and the other was a spinal fusion. I have also had a revision to my spinal fusion. Surgeries scare me because I get weak and I don't know if it's the surgery or my unknown disability.
I am also legally blind. I have optic nerve atrophy with nystagmus and esotropia. Optic nerve atrophy is where the optic nerve is very pale instead of the typical, healthy pink it's supposed to be. Nystagmus is the involuntary shaking of the eyes and estropia is an eye muscular imbalance. At the age of two I also had had CAT scan of my brain to see the cause of my visual impairment. That also came back negative with no signs of any cause.
Through all this I trust that God has a plan for me. I don't know exactly what His plans are for me, but He does and I believe I'm going the right way. My story isn't over but I can do all things through Jesus who gives me strength!
