A healthy, active "Junior!"
Once upon a time, I had a "Baby Delilah," named by her birth mother, in Ghana, honoring me. This beautiful little girl, biological sister to my Blessing, was welcomed into my heart the day she was born and into my home a few years after.
Baby Delilah was a healthy, active baby and toddler, meeting all her benchmarks on time or early until she was 2. At that time she was afflicted by a mysterious illness and became unable to walk or move, her eye drooped, she became lax and unresponsive. Rushed to the hospital, there was no answers.
About a year and a half later, and with some improvement in her health, we were able to get her to the states on a medical visa, and soon after she was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis.
"Myasthenia Gravis (pronounced My-as-theen-ee-a Grav-us) comes from the Greek and Latin words meaning "grave muscular weakness." The most common form of MG is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that is characterized by fluctuating weakness of the voluntary muscle groups. The prevalence of MG in the United States is estimated to be about 20/100,000 population. However, MG is probably under diagnosed and the prevalence may be higher. Myasthenia Gravis occurs in all races, both genders, and at any age. MG is not thought to be directly inherited nor is it contagious. It does occasionally occur in more than one member of the same family." myasthenia.org
Our journey of understanding has been long. It is difficult to watch her struggle. We are so fortunate however, to have a bright, caring medical team, and the unrelenting support of family, friends, and Junior's (as she now insists on being called) school.
My youngest daughter is happy and thriving!
This week, this message reached me. I was brought to tears and reminded that though our personal struggles sometimes seem overwhelming, all things really do work together for good.
Hi Delilah,
I'm sure you get tons and tons of messages daily, but I wanted to share something with you…
About three years ago, I called your request line just looking for an encouraging song. What I got, however, was so much more! You spent upwards of an hour talking to me, I was having physical issues, and they had ruled out lupus, MS, and migraines.
You told me about your daughter who suffered from Myasthenia Gravis, and asked me (a very depressed, almost suicidal newlywed of just 1 year) if they had done testing for MG. I told you they had not, and you lovingly encouraged me to ask them to check for that. I was diagnosed about a month later with Myasthenia Gravis.
Delilah, you both literally and figuratively saved my life that day!!! Other than my husband, who, truthfully was beginning to doubt my symptoms, you were the only one to listen to me. I thank God daily that I was blessed to speak to you that night, because I was genuinely at the end of my rope, and suicide was a serious consideration.
I just wanted to tell you thank you, for everything you do for your listeners. You're a Godsend!
~ Anonymous
I am so blessed to be able to love and raise Junior and to share on my radio platform information about Myasthenia Gravis. To think that I helped this one beautiful woman find a diagnosis is both encouraging and humbling!
For more information on this strange disease, visit Myasthenia.org.