MARHABAA!
Can one person be this much strong after being diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), Cystic fibrosis (CF) and Leukemia Remission 2 and not giving up on life? Megan Holmes, a twenty-five year old from Ohio, is here today as an inspiration to many people around the world, in similar situation. Let us have some understanding of these medical terms before we speak to Megan. Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), also referred to as Von Recklinghausen's disease, Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis, and peripheral NF, is an inherited neurological disorder that affects one in every 3000 people. NF1 ranges from mild to severe and can cause more symptoms in some people than in others. It mainly affects the skin, the nervous system and the eyes. Most people with NF1 have recognizable signs before the age of 10 and the symptoms may vary as follows: six or more light brown skin spots (café au lait spots), freckles in unusual places, such as under the arms and in the groin or even coloured bumps on the iris (Lisch nodules) or a tumor on the optic nerve (called an optic nerve glioma) or abnormal development of the spine (scoliosis), the temple (sphenoid) bone of the skull, or the tibia (one of the long bones of the shin). Although neurofibromas can be removed, scientists have still not found a way to prevent its growth even after a surgery. Treatments work only towards controlling or relieving the symptoms. On the other hand, Cystic Fibrosis (CF), which is a genetic disorder, hits mostly the lungs, as well as the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestine. In the long run, affected patients may face difficulty in breathing and coughing up mucus that can lead to lung infections. The symptoms are poor growth, sinus infections, fatty stool, clubbing of the fingers and toes or even infertility in some males. Infections can be treated with antibiotics, however, there is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Lastly, Leukemia, also spelled leukaemia, is a group of cancers that usually starts in the bone marrow and end up in high numbers of abnormal white cells, also called blasts. There are four main types of leukemia — acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) — as well as a number of less common types. The symptoms vary and may include the following; tiredness, fever, bruising and bleeding problems that can result in increased risk of infections. The patient is diagnosed through blood tests or bone marrow biopsy to try to determine the causes. However, the exact causes are still unknown and believed to be either inherited or non-inherited. People with a family history of leukemia or down-syndrome, smoking, ionizing radiation, being exposed to chemicals such as benzene are more at risk to leukemia. Chemotherapy, which is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells, usually by stopping the cancer cells’ ability to grow and divide, is a treatment that can help, but there is no guarantee that the patients can be totally cured, although in some cases, like, Mr. David Lingle who was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), claimed to have been healed. (Read his article here: http://www.chrisbeatcancer.com/david-refused-chemo-and-healed-leukemia-naturally/) When I met Miss Megan Holmes on social media, I was moved by her experiences, her struggles and her attitude towards life. Here I am interviewing the beautiful Megan who agreed to share her plight and some of her pictures, not help reach out people in condition alike. 1. What age were you when diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), Cystic fibrosis (CF) and Leukemia Remission 2? Well, I was born with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) and Cystic fibrosis (CF). But it was only at about age 3 that I was diagnosed with Leukemia Remission 2. The two tests were conducted when I was 3 and 4 respectively confirmed the disease. 2. How did you find the strength to go through the treatments and how did you spend that phase? Ever since I was little, I knew I was put here on earth for a reason. God would not have put me here for anything. Sometimes, I sleep a lot because these diseases drain me off, but I still struggled. I even wrote stories for myself and tried to be normal. I decided not to let my illness stop me from living my life. Now, I indulge myself in crochets and sell those items from home. 3. What motivated you to keep on fighting? Do you think you will lose this battle? My family kept me motivated a lot, making sure I would not give up and stood by me regarding my decisions with my health issues. As much as I hate to say it, yes the illness does kill me, but it is a matter of winning it. Every night when I go to sleep, I can say that I have passed the day, so every single day is a win for me. 4. What did family or friends do or say that meant the most to you? They kept telling me I was born for a reason and that no matter what I required, they would always be standing for me. It was tough going to school bald at such a young age and explaining to my school friends that if leukemia returned, I would have to shave my head again and if I died, I would give my body to science for experiments and if scientists would find any cure for others that come after me. 5. Who has been your greatest support in your life so far? Apart from my family, it is my sister Aylia who has been great and also my high school group of friends: Melissa, Angie, Lizz, Mandi and Lissia. We were the outcast because we were different from the others. So we would keep each other going and not giving up on anything. They never judged me like the others and they always supported me. 6. What are the treatments and diet you currently follow? Currently, I have no special diet although I should probably cut out on my junk food and all the pop I drank or I would be back in Topamax for my tumors and migraine. 7. Lastly, what is the best advice you could give to our readers about daily struggles and life in general? Keep fighting, because the moment you decide that the illness will win is the moment you give up, and then you let it win. Don’t let the disease run your life, you run your life yourself. After you emerge as a winner, people are going to tell you do not look sick and dying (as in my case). Just do not listen to them. Find only the right person to be in your life to keep you going and make sure you do not give up. You can win this battle with your mind to always looking forward. It does get hard, I will not lie, but keep on pushing and find something that brings happiness and explore it. Consequently, I would like to thank Megan Holmes for having shared her experience with us. Below are pictures of her. Megan struggling after her weight loss (80 pounds in just few days) and still smiling. Megan with the café au lait spots.
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AuthorWriting keeps me alive. After the success of my first work- "OBSTINACY: The Dauntless Chase", which was published in April 2013, I am currently working on my upcoming novel, "Bereft" to be released soon. Don't ever give up. Life is the best teacher." Archives
December 2023
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