MS and a Dance of Hope

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 26, 2016 / A story about hope and one dance come full circle 25 years later. Irma Resendez was paralyzed from her waist down at the age of 28 in 1990. She woke up one night and couldn’t get up to go to the bathroom. Irma was an aerobic queen and lived a very active lifestyle raising her two toddler daughters. How could she be running around with her family and wake up the next day paralyzed? Multiple Sclerosis.

She was diagnosed with MS after months of tests and MRIs. MS is a chronic disease that damages the nerves in the spinal cord and brain, as well as the optic nerves. Sclerosis means scarring, and people with MS develop multiple areas of scar tissue in response to the nerve damage. The resident neurologists, David Saperia, M.D. who admitted Irma gave her a positive message, “One day you will walk again, and I want the first dance.” Envisioning herself dancing was too much at the time, but still made her smile and gave her hope. After months of rehabilitation Irma was able to walk again, using leg braces and sometimes a scooter for longer distances. She did have her dance with Dr. Saperia several years later when their eyes met again in a different hospital while she walked passed him wearing leg braces and he asked her right there in the hospital hallway, “May I have this dance?” This experience was a powerful moment.

In 2 decades time Irma went back to school using her scooter, received her Masters in Social Work from CSULB (even earning the title of MSW student of the year), founded a non-profit organization, and fully recovered, no longer needing assistance to walk. Today Familia Unida Living with MS, serves 15,000 individuals a year living with MS and other disabilities.

Her MS was in remission, and in 2010 she was given shocking news from her neurologist. Her MS had completely gone away, a miracle many will argue. The lesions from her MRI had miraculously disappeared. Her current neurologist requested she return to Rancho Los Amigos obtain her original records to compare her past lesions, so that she could remove the diagnosis of MS officially off her medical record. This was unexpected news because there currently is no cure for MS, and suggested a misdiagnosis for over 20 years? Could that be? Another life altering moment, learning that she was free of MS, a personal identifier that Resendez lived with for so long.

Irma continues to serve as Executive Director of Familia Unida and speaks all over the country giving hope and support. Resendez wrote a book in English and Spanish titled Simply Amor: A Mother’s Miracle- Living with Multiple Sclerosis, an intimate look inside her journey with MS. It has received heartfelt reviews and is a tool for inspiration.

 

 

Simply Amor available in English & Spanish

This Thursday April 28, 2016 Familia Unida Living with MS celebrates 20 years of service with Salud! To Love & Family ~A Dinner GALA hosted at the Historic Biltmore Hotel, in Downtown Los Angeles. A very special recognition beginning with David Saperia, M.D. receiving the Champion of Amor Award for his passion to better serve his patients which has been his lifetime commitment while also bridging a wide range of medical expertise and holistic treatment simply because he cares to offer the best options. David Saperia, M.D. is now the Chief Physician for the CARE Unit at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center whereby he has been serving for over 25 years. When recently asked by one of his former patients and friend, “why do you work endless hours serving your patients?” his response was quite simple… “because I care”.

Irma and David will share the first dance after dinner has commenced. Come witness a room full of inspiration and love.

Ticket sales for Salud! To Love and Family Dinner Gala close Wednesday April 27 at 5:00pm PST and can be purchased online at http://lovefamiliaunida.org/gala/ your donations are tax deductible, and will make a difference! Funds will benefit the nonprofit to support their monthly wheelchair wash and year long wellness programs for individuals and families living with multiple sclerosis and other disabilities.

SOURCE: Familia Unida Living with MS

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