Alabama TM Support Group
Terry and Jennifer Chapman
Monroeville, Alabama

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the Transverse Myelitis family.  I would also like to thank everyone who has been so instrumental in providing the information that we have received about this mysterious disease.  I am the wife and caregiver to my husband who was diagnosed with TM and Devics disease.  I am also the mother of five very loving and healthful children.

There are a lot of people in the state of Alabama whose lives have been affected by this disease.  It is for this reason that I would love to start a TM support group.  I have talked to some of you who expressed a sincere interest in making this dream a reality.  I am hoping and praying that others will also be interested in this much-needed group in our state.  It is sad and heartbreaking to see someone suffering from TM, but it is also a blessing to have someone you can relate to and to know that you are not fighting this battle alone.

My husband, Terry, has been suffering with TM since August 26, 2005.  What started out as a typical night changed our lives by the next morning.  My husband had been complaining of bad pain in his neck and back.  He was also experiencing a heavy feeling in his legs and a pins and needles effect in his feet.  Terry woke up the next morning and had no feeling in his legs.  I immediately called the doctor and he instructed me to get him to his office ASAP.  He was sent from this doctor to a neurologist.  Everything was still a mystery; however, the neurologist did think quickly and ordered five days of IV steroids, with an oral taper with 60 mg daily.  The feeling in his legs eventually returned.

We soon learned that this was just the beginning of a very long fight.  Our family basically began a whole new life; a life filled with numerous MRIs, CAT, ICU and countless new medications.  Terry has had to endure blood clots in one leg, horrible spasms, and severe stomach pain which we later learned is called banding.

On January 6th of this year we almost lost him.  He had just completed a series of IV steroids, five days to be exact.  On the fifth day, my husband walked into the hospital to begin his last day of treatments, only to be wheeled out four hours later.  He was so sick that he could barely hold his head up.  When I asked the nurse what was happening, she told me that he was just very tired and dried out.  She also said to give him plenty of fluids and he would be okay.  We arrived home and he was not doing any better; the only thing that he could keep down was milk.  The next morning he was non responsive. I immediately took him to the ER and I thank God everyday that I did.  By the time we got there his heart rate was very low, his kidney had stopped functioning, his blood pressure was dropping and the doctor did not hear any sound in his stomach.  He was dying.  All of this was due to an over dosage of IV steroids.  He was immediately sent to ICU where he remained until he was stable enough to move to the University of Birmingham, which is about 200 miles away.  Under the care of a great neurologist he was on the road to recovery.  However, due to the excessive steroid usage he is also diabetic.  Each day is a struggle, but he never gives up.  He is currently walking aided with a cane.  The inflammation in his spine is still there, however, he is currently taking Cytoxin once a month and IV steroids as needed, along with a host of other medications.  He is unable to work at this time, but we are grateful that he is not totally paralyzed.  His left leg does have some numbness, but is continuing to get stronger each day.

If anyone is interested in participating in a support group, please feel free to contact me.  My home phone number is (251)575-1058 and my email address is tjcchap5@yahoo.com   I would love to create a community of encouragement, not only for those who suffer with TM, Devics or ADEM, but also for the families, friends, caregivers and physicians who feel the impact of these disorders, as well.  Please call or write me via email.  We are looking forward to hearing from you.