The story of Marissa
My name is Marissa. I live in Toronto, Canada and I was recently diagnosed with NMOSD in September 2024.
I woke up one morning and my right side of my face, arm and leg were numb. I was falling over and couldn’t walk! I thought I was having a stroke and went to the emergency department at the hospital. After many tests, CT scan and MRI they ruled out it was not a stroke but thought I might have MS. The neurologist wanted to complete more tests; bloodwork and another contrast MRI. The diagnosis was not MS. I was AQP4 positive which means I have been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called neuromyelitis optics spectrum disorder (NMOSD). This disease is not curable and an attack can be devastating.
So I fight every day to stay strong and learn to live my new “normal”.