Transverse Myelitis got my spinal cord but not my spirit

While travelling to South Africa and Rwanda for volunteer work with wildlife I became ill. I thought it was just a strange reaction to my anti-malarial medication and continued on. It started off as back spasms, which after 3 days turned into tingling from my knees to my toes on both legs. I stopped the medication but the tingling never went away. After a week of tingling sensations I began to go numb and ended up in a Johannesburg hospital, which I was released from with pain medication.

Within two weeks from the onset of symptoms I arrived home in Canada and was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis. After the plane ride I lost mobility in my left leg… I consider myself lucky as I regained movement back fairly quickly after treatments, however I still suffer from numbness, tingling, hot/cold sensations and pains from my waist down. The disease resulted in a 14mm lesion located on T9 of my spinal cord.

Before this all happened I was signed up for several races, as this is something I love to do… I decided I wouldn’t let this condition stop me from doing something I love. I will still run this year in MudHero, which is a 6km obstacle course in Alberta, Canada.

I hope to raise funds for the Transverse Myelitis Association through pledges I get with my run so that they can continue with valuable research for individuals who come down with this rare inflammatory disease.

Transverse Myelitis got my spinal cord but not my spirit :)

~ Melissa Colbourne

To support Melissa’s cause, please click here.