I was diagnosed with MG 16 years ago when I was 24. I got very sick very quick before diagnosis. I couldn't chew, swallow, walk, stand up, breathe or even raise my arms to wash my own hair. I also couldn't smile. Doctors in my small town told me I was depressed and sent me to a psychiatrist. As my "depression" got worse I was hospitalised when I had respiratory failure and the nurse in the intensive care unit punctured my lung while inserting an NG tube. I was fighting and I was restrained. While they had the oxygen mask over my face I was being suffocated. My last thought and prayer was for God to take me from this pain. I woke up two days later in Kansas City six hours away from home on life support, where I was diagnosed with MG. I went through many failed treatments over the next two years and the hospital was my home. Plasmapheresis was a quick one week fix. I went into respiratory failure during my only IVIG and prednisone, Cellcept and Mestinon just didn't help my symptoms. Over two years I was on respirator six times and Social Security Disability (SSDI) had hospital as my address. My sister told me to sign a DNR because my life was unacceptable and I would never get better. My respiratory failure during IVIG meant I was put on a respirator. I wanted a DNR and my doctor said, "I promise you will get better". An anaesthesiologist came in. He was very young and said he's been in remission years and to have hope.

When I was 26 my neurologist gave me 50/50 chance of remission if I have thymectomy. Fifty percent was better than what I was going through, so I gambled. I had the thymectomy when I was 26. I had respiratory failure during surgery and was in a coma on life support for two weeks. I had three months inpatient physical therapy to walk again and then three months outpatient physical therapy until I was ready to move back to my home town. I was 24 when diagnosed and 26 when I had my thymectomy.

I'm now 40 and I've never had another symptom. I've been off all medications for MG since I was 28. Complete remission. I feel grateful that I'm in remission and I feel guilty for all the ones who remain sick. When I was suffering this illness there weren't any MG groups like this and I didn't know of anyone in this world except the anaesthesiologist that had MG. He was my only hope. I would like to start connecting with people with myasthenia because it’s important that I don't forget where I came from. If I can give hope to one person my experience is worth it.