My "Fortunate" Disease by V'lesha Wilcox

I bet you have never thought about being able to smile. You're probably thinking, "C'mon, everyone can smile, you don't have to think about it." I would've said the same thing before my sophomore year in high school. In 2001 I was diagnosed with a neuromuscular autoimmune disease called Myasthenia Gravis. MG affects the transmission of nerve impulses at the neuromuscular junction, causing the characteristic fluctuating weakness in voluntary muscle groups that include ocular, oropharyngeal, shoulder, hip, and limbs. Although there are effective treatments, there is no cure for this disease. I take a total of 7 pills daily, and a couple more when needed. I also went through major surgery. I had a thymectomy, which uses the same procedures as open-heart surgery to remove thymus tissue in the chest cavity. I had to undergo a six-week long recovery period.

You're probably wondering how all of this started. My sophomore year started out great. School was going well, and my athletic endeavors were going even better. I qualified for regionals in cross-country my freshman year, so the outlook was even brighter for the next year. I was sick on the day of the meet though. Basketball was going great. I was a starter and the only sophomore on varsity. As games began we were winning, but I was having some problems. My eyes wouldn't stay open, and when they did, I had no depth perception at all. This of course threw off my game tremendously. I went to an ophthalmologist, and he said my eyes were healthy and had no idea what the problem was. This was good news, but also not so good at all. I kept playing though.

I then began to experience problems with my facial muscles. It became very difficult and tiring to smile, chew, and talk. The muscles in my face just wouldn't work. I couldn't explain it to anyone. As time went on, I had trouble writing in school and doing other simple tasks like putting on my makeup and fixing my hair. In games, my legs would feel very tired even before tip-off. I spent 45 minutes before the game stretching and rubbing them down with Icy Hot trying to loosen them up. I couldn't figure out why it was that way. We played in a Christmas tournament over the break, and during the first game, it was horrible. I couldn't get up and down the court or move my feet well on defense; I was one of the quickest people on the team. I told coach that my legs just wouldn't work, but naturally that is a little hard to understand, especially because we were out of shape due to the break. During the next game, I could not run. When I tried I would just fall. My legs would not move. This scared me.

My parents took me to the doctor and that is when a long, grueling process began. By doctor's orders I couldn't play basketball anymore. She went down a long list of things it could be, and the testing began. I visited the doctor almost twice a week to run more tests. After three months of being pricked, shocked, and drained the doctor referred me to a neurologist. He then began his tests. I missed almost 25 days of school that year, not to mention the rest of basketball and track. Finally, after six months of tests, I was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, and told I would probably never be able to play or run again. This was not an option.

I started treatment which included a high dose of a steroid called Prednisone. This helped with the symptoms, but the side effects were awful. I had an increased appetite, my face swelled up, and I was extremely moody. But I was beginning to be able to do things that I couldn't do before. My eyes and facial muscles improved a lot, but my legs still weren't up to speed. Not playing was completely out of the question though.

That's when I decided to have the thymectomy. There was only a fifty percent chance it would work, but fifty was better than zero. The procedure took place in June 2002. Because of the surgery, I no longer have to take the steroids. I'm not cured but I'm not on steroids. On top of that, I played basketball my junior year, started, and we were area champs. I received 1st team all-district honors. I also ran track my junior year and qualified for regionals in the 800m relay and the 1600m relay. Now it’s my senior year. Although I am unable to run cross-country, I am playing basketball. We have a good team that is state ranked. I have endured a lot to get here, and I have a scar to prove it!

Throughout the whole experience I wished I wasn't this way, but I'm appreciative of the lessons I've learned. Without this experience I wouldn't be grateful for the things people take for granted. I wouldn't have thought twice about being able to fix my hair or hold silverware or swallow food. Now I thank God for every opportunity I have to do these things. My spiritual life has also benefited from this. I consider myself lucky because although I will be taking medicine for the rest of my life, I have everyday reminders to be thankful and not take anything for granted.

This misfortune has pushed me to become an orthopedic surgeon, in order to help others that encounter a career ending mishap. Some people might call my condition sad or unfortunate, but I think I am very fortunate to be the way I am physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Note: V'Lesha was recruited by the University of California at San Diego to play basketball, she played one year, was red-shirted for a knee injury, became a little homesick for Texas family and friends, and wanted to move forward with her goal to become an orthopedic surgeon and is now back in Texas.

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