Sheila Fitzgerald is a PhD, a Nurse and also an Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland. And besides, I consider her a major example of courage, determination, strength, and mental desire to overcome barriers and difficulties.
In 1981, Sheila was a PhD student in Environmental Health Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, had husband, a seven-year old daughter, a master's in nursing, a dozen years of teaching and work experience and an enthralling challenge studying individuals with cardiovascular disease returning to work. Then, suddenly she began to notice a loss of balance at a late afternoon walk back to her car parked on Broadway. She felt a heaviness in her right leg, which made her unsteady. The a doctor confirmed that something was wrong with her. Multiple Sclerosis was the diagnosis. The autoimmune disease which destroys the myelin sheath protecting nerve cells in selected parts of the neuromuscular system. Sheila was 35 years old, in the first year of her PhD, and thought the world was going to end.
It did not. Her husband was very supportive and told her that there was no reason to stop her PhD program. Life was pretty good for 5 years. Sheila finished her PhD, began working as a professor at the university, however her endurance decreased. A full time job, a career, family and the challenges of a busy life, such as a long commute and others created challenges. Even walking a short distance became difficult. Sheila stop walking as much and as she drove, she felt her balance was lost, and got a reputation for driving full-tilt; even though she never got a ticket. As the disease progressed, she walked less and began to use the scooter more often.
It was fortunate to rely on others for a while as the disease slowly progressed. However, when her husband passed away and her daughter got married; Sheila moved to a condominium in Baltimore and began swimming to regain her strength. The her physical therapists advised her to try something called NESS L300. He said it would help her. She then tried it and is now walking with much more control and balance. the technology changed her life. However, her perseverance, optimism, desire to live well and more independently gave her the strength and ability to overcome the difficulties and challenges based on her condition. The technology also changed her life, and she realizes now that there is nothing so wonderful as to stand on her feet and negotiate the world.
In 1981, Sheila was a PhD student in Environmental Health Sciences at Johns Hopkins University, had husband, a seven-year old daughter, a master's in nursing, a dozen years of teaching and work experience and an enthralling challenge studying individuals with cardiovascular disease returning to work. Then, suddenly she began to notice a loss of balance at a late afternoon walk back to her car parked on Broadway. She felt a heaviness in her right leg, which made her unsteady. The a doctor confirmed that something was wrong with her. Multiple Sclerosis was the diagnosis. The autoimmune disease which destroys the myelin sheath protecting nerve cells in selected parts of the neuromuscular system. Sheila was 35 years old, in the first year of her PhD, and thought the world was going to end.
It did not. Her husband was very supportive and told her that there was no reason to stop her PhD program. Life was pretty good for 5 years. Sheila finished her PhD, began working as a professor at the university, however her endurance decreased. A full time job, a career, family and the challenges of a busy life, such as a long commute and others created challenges. Even walking a short distance became difficult. Sheila stop walking as much and as she drove, she felt her balance was lost, and got a reputation for driving full-tilt; even though she never got a ticket. As the disease progressed, she walked less and began to use the scooter more often.
It was fortunate to rely on others for a while as the disease slowly progressed. However, when her husband passed away and her daughter got married; Sheila moved to a condominium in Baltimore and began swimming to regain her strength. The her physical therapists advised her to try something called NESS L300. He said it would help her. She then tried it and is now walking with much more control and balance. the technology changed her life. However, her perseverance, optimism, desire to live well and more independently gave her the strength and ability to overcome the difficulties and challenges based on her condition. The technology also changed her life, and she realizes now that there is nothing so wonderful as to stand on her feet and negotiate the world.
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