Dawn M. Sheckles
Journey to Devic's
Dawn was injured in a car accident on February 17, 2007. She was driving a small compact car when she was broadsided by a large pickup truck driven by a young driver. The car Dawn was driving was hit so hard that the car spun around and the fluids poured freely from the car. One the friends of the other driver asked Dawn if she was hurt. When she said yes, the friend said “are you sure you are not faking”. Another friend of the other driver tried to get Dawn to let him help pull her from the car so he could move the car. Thank God there were witnesses and one of the witnesses would not let the man move Dawn or the car. Once the ambulance arrived, Dawn had to be pulled from the car. Dawn was transported to the emergency room where she complained of neck, back and knee pain. She was examined and some x-rays were taken. However, it did not appear she was seriously hurt. While at the hospital, it appeared Dawn had a seizure. The x-rays showed nothing and she was sent home with some pain pills.
From February 2007 until June 2007, Dawn was seen in the ER, by her Primary Care Physician (PCP) and a Chiropractor complaining of severe neck, shoulder and back pain. Due to her severe pain, Dawn was having a very hard time walking. She walked very slow. On the 10th of June 2007, she was seen by her PCP. During that visit, she was told that she had Sjogren’s Syndrome. This diagnoses came from a rheumatologist Dawn had been seeing due to her pain. Dawn and her mother were shocked. The rheumatologist did not mention this toto them nor did he give them a treatment plan.
On the 13th of June 2007, Dawn was back in the ER due to extreme, severe pain. She was in so much pain she could not walk. She told the attending physician that she had pain from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet. The attending (ER) Doctor called Dawn’s PCP and was told that Dawn had an autoimmune disorder called Collagen Vascular Disease. When she left the ER, she was given a prescription for prednisone, pain pills and a referral to see another rheumatologist for a second opinion. When they left the hospital, Dawn, and her mother thought her medical problems were due to an autoimmune disorder.
On June 15, 2007, Dawn and her family went to Nevada for a visit to determine if they wanted to relocate back the state. Almost immediately, Dawn was being seen in Urgent care for pain in her neck, back, shoulder and knee. Many tests were completed and according to the doctor, there was nothing to suggest Dawn had arthritis or an autoimmune disorder. During the week of September 15, 2007, Dawn had been seen in Urgent Care four times. By the 17th of September 2007, Dawn was hospitalized due to paralysis of the right side of her body. On September 19, 2007, the left side of Dawn’s body began to show sings of paralysis as well. By September 23, 2007, Dawn was paralyzed from the chest down. She was considered a quadriplegic.
The Doctors at Sunrise hospital could not tell Dawn or the family what was wrong. Many test were done including MRI’s, CT SCANS, blood work and eventually a thoracic laminectomy and biopsy of the spinal cord at the T7 level due to severe swelling of the entire spine. Dawn spent months in the hospital as the doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with her. The family was told it could be a tumor, cancer or Multiple Sclerosis. As the test came back and everything was ruled out. Dawn and the family were told Dawn suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of the Car accident from February 2007. It appeared that her spine and been swelling for months.
Dawn spent five months in inpatient rehabilitation where she received physical and occupational therapy. She returned home on January 31, 2008. She begun in home health care.
By the grace of God, with hard work, motivation, determination and family support, Dawn was walking with a walker by March 2008. By April 2008, she was walking with a cane. By May 2008, Dawn was walking without assistance.
On the 2nd of June of 2008, Dawn complained of blurred vision nausea and she seem to be off balanced. On June 5, 2008 she was seen by her Primary care physician who wanted her to see an Optometrist. In the process of making the referral , Dawn went completely blind in her right eye. She was taken her the ER where she was given a referral to see an Optometrist for the next day. Dawn was examined by an Optometrist and nothing could be seen wrong with the eye itself. Dawn was seen by a total of three Optometrists and three Ophthalmologists and nothing could be seen wrong with the eye itself. The third Ophthalmologists called Dawn’s Neurologist and told him he needed to see her immediately. After the visit with her Neurologist, Dawn was hospitalized for two days for further examination.
On June 8, 2008, Dawn was hospitalized due to having what appeared to be a severe seizure. After she was released, She continued going to out-patient physical and occupational therapy to improve strength and endurance. Because the Doctors could not tell Dawn or the family what was wrong, they wanted to be seen at the Mayo Clinic, but were told that Dawn’s Doctor had to refer her. Several times the family requested a referral to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. However, Dawn’s Doctor did not think she needed a referral.
It took six months before Dawn was given a referral to the Mayo Clinic. Approximately on or about August 23, 2008, Dawn complained of weakness, nausea and loss of appetite. After speaking to her doctors, it was determined she was tired from the increase in physical therapy. She was given a prescription to enhance her appetite. However, by the 26th of August 2008, Dawn was completely paralyzed from the chest down.
Late August or early in September 2008, Dawn was diagnosed with a rare disease called Devic’s Disease. By that time, Dawn was seen at the Mayo Clinic, she paralyzed again and in a wheelchair. It was implied that had she been seen at the Mayo Clinic sooner, she would not have had the second episode. She would have been properly treated and most likely walking.
When Dawn was seen at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona by Dr. Jonathan Carter MD, he was able to detect that Dawn was not on the proper dosage of medication. He also recommended other treatment options which have greatly improved Dawn's quality of life. She has gone from a quadriplegic to a paraplegic and is constantly improving. Our family thanks Dr. Carter for his patience, professionalism efficiency and concern. He is a blessing and it is our desire that he continues to practice Medicine for a very long time. We would further like to commend him on his detailed, precise and helpful social and medical report. It must be noted that Dr. Carter also consulted via the telephone with Dr. Wingerchuk during our visit at the Mayo Clinic.
I highly respect Dr. Wingerchuk and I am very impressed with the work he does regarding Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) also Known as Devic's Disease. It is clear to me that he is very passionate, concerned and dedicated to the research for this disease. Although the Mayo Clinic in my opinion is one of the leading Medical Facilities that provides the best health care services in the country where the patients needs comes before cost. the quality of service they provide is unbelievable. In fact as far as I am concerned, the service they provide is awesome!
Dawn is a hero to her mother. She can count on one hand the days Dawn felt anxious or depressed. Dawn has been very positive, using humor to help her cope with her disease.
DISCLAIMER
Please make sure to check with your Doctor, Neurologist before making any medical decision. Information obtained on this iste is information found during the research of Devic's Disease. This disease has been known about in Europe since the 1800"s and was thought to be an Asiatic Disease. However, this disease is also common in Africa as well as Asia.
Journey to Devic's; Diary of Dawn Sheckles
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