August 7, 2024 • 35 mins
Tasha has always faced life’s challenges head-on. Diagnosed with MG at the young age of 6, she quickly learned the importance of self-confidence. At 29, an MG crisis pushed her to manage her health from a new perspective. From her hospital bed, she created a nonprofit aimed not just at sharing her story but also at empowering and inspiring others within the MG community. Despite numerous setbacks, Tasha tapped into a deep well of strength, showcasing the transformative power of believing in oneself.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hi everyone, and welcome back to Untold Stories Life with
a severe autoimmune condition. This podcast is a production of
Ruby Studio in partnership with Argenics, and I'm your host,
Martine Hackett. I'm an Associate professor and Director of Public
Health Programs at Hofstra University, and as a researcher, educator,
and public health professional, I've spent my career studying the
(00:26):
complex realities of health care disparities and advocating to do
something about them. On this podcast, I speak with real
people living with severe autoimmune conditions like Mayasthenia gravis or
MG and chronic inflammatory demielinating polyneuropathy otherwise known as CIDP
to help expand the conversation around these shared experiences. Every
(00:51):
person with a severe autoimmune condition has a unique diagnosis,
journey and stories of struggles, resilience and hope. We're here
to shine a light on as many of these amazing
stories as we can, stressing the power of community care
and self advocacy as we embrace this very emotional journey together.
(01:13):
If you're a regular here, you know that we are
all about sharing the real and raw stories of people
living with MG and CIDP today we're exploring the impact
of Mayasthenia gravis, a condition that challenges everyday life, and
the transformative power of confidence to reshape that experience. Building
(01:33):
confidence along the autoimmune journey can help individuals better advocate
for their needs and prioritize self care. Alongside the physical symptoms,
MG can drive many uncertainties, changing one's vision of the
future and the relationships they build when facing moments of
isolation and fear. Cultivating and maintaining confidence becomes a major
(01:58):
part of learning from the experiences and growing through them
to find a new perspective. Sharing her story today is Tasha,
who was diagnosed with MG when she was only six
years old. Though her challenges often felt like a routine
part of daily life, a major MG crisis at the
age of twenty nine tested the confidence she carried both
(02:21):
through her condition management and outlook on life. However, this
experience also sparked an incredible idea. Right from her hospital bed,
Tasha started a platform and nonprofit that wasn't just about
sharing her story, but also empowering and educating others, spreading
hope across the MG community. Tasha's here to take us
(02:44):
through her inspiring journey how she's dealt with lifelong symptoms, setbacks,
and sacrifices throughout her life, and how she's built her
confidence not only to manage her condition, but also to
advocate for and uplift others facing similar experiences. Hi, Tasha,
(03:08):
good morning, Good morning, and thank you so much for
joining us here today, because it is it's all about
you and hearing about your journey. And so let's start
off by recognizing that we know that everyone's MG journey
is unique and being diagnosed at a very young age
is not the typical scenario. Yes, so Tasha, can you
(03:31):
take us on that journey? Can you share with us
what that looked like for you being diagnosed at such
a young age.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So one memory that I have, I was outside playing
with the neighborhood kids. My brother was out there too,
and I just felled to the ground. So I was
close to a fire hydrant and a stop sign and
we didn't know what was going on. But I had
(03:59):
to use fire hydrogen and the stop sign to pull
myself up just to get up. But over I guess
a period of time, my mom started noticing things. You know,
I was not as active as most children at five
six years old. She said, I'd kind of laid down
a lot, like I didn't have enough energy, so that
(04:21):
prompted her to get me checked out.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
My aesthenia gravis is rare. According to the Children's Hospital
of Philadelphia, about ten and one million people are diagnosed
each year, and just ten percent of those diagnosed with
the condition are children. And how did that early diagnosis
affect how you interacted with your peers.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Well, at six, I really didn't know what was going on.
So I do remember, you know, having to get blood
drawn and then I could never say the name of
this particular treatment for diagnosis. But I had my muscles
stimulated with the election. Well I don't want to say electricity,
but I was shocked, so I vividly remember that and
(05:07):
crying and screaming, you know, like Mom, why are they
doing this? Stop? And all of that. So I tested
positive for the antibody, so my diagnosis came back rather quickly.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Well, yeah, and like we said, it's such a young age,
which it's not typical for most folks in their MG journey.
Thinking back to that time, what was your understanding of
how you were diagnosed?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I don't know. I do remember my mom crying in
the doctor's office, and the nurse took me out when
it got me some gram crackers and candy. So I'm
assuming that the doctor wanted the tides of my mom.
But when I got back into the room, she was
crying and I wiped her face and I said, Mom,
it's going to be okay. I didn't know what was
going on. I didn't even know how to say, you
(05:54):
know what it was that I had, couldn't pronounce the medications.
But I do remember that. And after that I had
the diymectomy. I remember that day I was in the
hospital had it done, and I remember waking up asking
the doctor, is it okay to wake up now? So
I was in recovery then. Yeah. So just trying to
(06:17):
grasp all of that at a young age was really difficult,
and I never disclosed anything to anybody, even my friends.
So they actually learned about it about me with my
sn and gravits back in September twenty fifteen, and they
were so mad.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yes to all those years you knew at such a
young age, but you didn't share that with your friends.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Not at all. I knew that I had to do
things differently, but I never told them. I was always
in my head, always self conscious about it, So why
would I say it? And then it's kind of a mood.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Killer, and you're like, you don't want to be that girl?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, I did. Didn't want to be that person, but
my mom and my dad made sure that I functioned
like a normal child would wonderful.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And so you said how you didn't really share that
information about your MG diagnosis with your friends, But how
did you perceive MG as part of your life? What
stands out for you during that time?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I think because of the diomectomy, I felt like I
had energy. So I made myself go out and play kickball.
I made myself go out and just be a normal kid.
I didn't want to be sick. I didn't want to
present myself as sick. And then again, I don't know
how to say it. I don't know how to spell it,
(07:45):
and I didn't know how to explain what it was.
So if I did disclose that information and you know,
my friends said, well, what is it, my response would be,
I don't know. I'm just tired.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
All the time you mentioned trying to grasp your situation
at a very young age. Was there a single moment
when you realized things are different for me.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yes, I went through a grieving process throughout my life.
When I was in my teens and I did see someone,
I talked to someone. It was hard. You know, I'm
entering high school. You know, doctors are still telling me, well,
you can't do this, you can't do that. Stop telling
me what I can't do, because I'm gonna do it.
I'm just going to go out and do it. But
(08:29):
I was able to participate in things at school, but
I did kind of duck off when I didn't have
a lot of energy. But that grieving process really did
a lot. It woke me up. I'm just really fortunate
that I have so many great people, family, friends, even
strangers that actually take the time and took the time
(08:51):
to learn me, you know, and learn about MG. So
that's the great benefit of it.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Yeah, and it sounds like, you know, you also found
your own voice in terms of advocating for yourself along
your MG journey. And you talked about your support system.
Can you tell a little bit more about who has
been an important part of your support system along the way.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Of course, my parents. My dad got rested, so for
a long time he didn't know how to say it himself,
but he knew that I needed that support. My mom,
of course, being my number one caregiver. Yeah, she made
sure I took my meds, how to take my meds, everything.
But I had an inside man and it was one
(09:38):
of my aunts. She actually recently passed this past January,
but she had MG as well, so outside of the
medical part, I literally had my own inside man. So
she taught me what MG could do, how MG could
get the different meds and things like that. So from
(10:02):
ninety three to September twenty fifteen, I was symptom free,
med free. I didn't even know that it was other treatments.
I didn't know it was so many other individuals until
I just got on Facebook one day, literally just laying
down and put in a searche mis eno GRAVIS and
(10:23):
all of these different groups popped up and I was like,
wait a minute, So got in the group, introduced myself,
gave a little bit, and everybody was so amazed at
how well I had been doing, and it was like
an introduction to a different side of me. And that's
when I had my first crisis.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Tasha talks about her aunt, who also battled MG some
of you might be curious if that's just by chance
or if MG runs in families. Medicine Plus, a service
of the National Library of Medicine, explains that MG usually
isn't inherited and often appears in people without any family
history of the disorder. However, about three to five percent
(11:05):
of those with MG do have relatives with the same condition,
though how it's passed down isn't clear. For Tasha, having
her aunt to lean on through her biggest challenges was
a tremendous help. And thinking about your aunt, like you said,
your inside man, the person who really kind of gave
(11:26):
you that guidance and understanding and insight into living with MG.
Could you talk a little bit more about what role
she played in helping build your self advocacy and your confidence.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
She told me, if you feel something, let the doctor know,
and if the doctor is not basically listening to you,
request someone new. She said. The overall purpose of a
medical professional is to take care of their patients because
you all work as a team. If one person on
the team falls down, then you know you got to
(12:00):
have that Foundations will get them back up, and MG
will knock you down, so they have to get you
back to your baseline and get you to where you
can function daily. But if they are not providing the
support for you, find you another doctor. She said. It's
just like, yeah, she was extremely hard on letting me
(12:22):
know you have a choice, you have a voice. Wow.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I mean, just to get that lesson at such a
young age, just it's like you never forget that, I'm.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Sure at all.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Tasha truly benefited from her aunt's support and experience, learning
that confidence is not only about self perception, but also
about finding the right team you can trust and on
which you can rely, trusting your doctors. Her advice really
highlights the critical importance of communication and advocating for yourself,
(12:58):
especially when managing MG or any autoimmune condition.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
So I actually got to see what MG could do.
I got a chance to see how low it could
get for someone with it. I never saw anyone or
anything or read anything that would break up person down
like that. So when I got that frontline view, it
(13:29):
literally scared the daylights out of me. But it also
helped me to get myself to a point where I
spoke to myself and says, you know, Atisha, what can
you do to minimize aggravating yourself, aggravating symptoms and things
like that. But again, at this time, I was still
symptom free, still mad free. But watching her navigate and
(13:52):
everything from then up until the time she passed really
got me into a space where I live as best
as I possibly can. I do everything that I want
to do. I take numerous amounts of naps, which I
think it should just be a daily thing for everybody,
(14:12):
but nap says resistance, right. But yeah, I just got
into a space for myself where I only have one
life and being a parent, I'm going to have fun.
I'm going to do it. And she made sure to
tell me just always try to do whatever it is
that you want to do, don't limit yourself.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
And that absolutely has come to pass for sure. Yes,
we'll be back with more untold stories after a quick break.
As a global immunology company committed to improving the lives
of people suffering from severe autoimmune conditions, Ourgenics is dedicated
(14:52):
to researching transformative medicines through clinical trials. Clinical trials help
enhance lives, improve care, and support rec search toward a
cure for various rare conditions. By participating in a clinical trial.
You can help improve the quality of life for people
living with rare autoimmune conditions and those who will be
in the future by helping discover the effectiveness of new treatments.
(15:15):
For more information about upcoming clinical trials, visit argenics dot
com slash patients slash clinical dash Trials. And now back
to untold stories. You also mentioned a little later on
(15:36):
that you had a significant empty crisis in your late
twenties that also sort of shifted your outlook and your condition.
Could you describe that time and how is it pivotal
in your journey?
Speaker 2 (15:49):
So I didn't know that triggers well what triggers were,
and this particular time, it was kind of warmy size
steal warm. It was September, and outside of the heat,
I was triggered in a stressful situation and the double
vision came back, and I hadn't had double vision in years.
(16:13):
But my lips and my tongue started tingling, and I
just felt heavy, not to the point where my body
or my limbs would give out, but I just felt heavy.
And then my speech started slurring. Well, I knew about
the double vision, but the slurred speech I had never experienced.
And then The tingling of the lips and the tongue
(16:34):
is not a typical symptom of MG, but that's mine.
So that's when I ended up in an emergency room.
Very traumatic, by the way, And yeah, that was my
very first crisis, right, And it sounds like it also
sort of shifted everything for you on your MG journey.
(16:56):
It did. It was so so scary. I went in
and the eor doctor that was on staff thought I
was having a stroke and I told him no through
slurge speech, yelling at him, you know, this is not
what's going on. So after he left, the nurse that
(17:18):
was getting me back together, trying to calm me down,
she told me, at that time in her twenty five
plus years, I was the second person she encountered with MG.
That's when the light bulb came on.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
And how did your outlook on your future change?
Speaker 2 (17:33):
After that? I went back to school awesome, because I
knew that in my life I was going to help people.
I didn't know how. So I sat down, I said, Mom,
I want to start a nonprofit. I want to help
people with MG, but I want to do it from
a different point of view.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
That's a common thread among the stories we hear individuals
navy the hardest parts of their condition and then there's
that transformative aha moment that changes everything.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
So it took me two and a half years. I
went back to school April of twenty seventeen, but in
between that time I was still struggling trying to get
back to my baseline. So I did have a few
more moments in the hospital. So I'm in the hospital,
in my hospital bed, getting treatment, but I'm in class.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
What.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yes, I was determined to get this done. I built
it from the ground up and just used myself. I
took pictures, I did videos, I did everything, and I
put it on Facebook and when I was ready, I
published the fan page and everything went viral.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yes, and you did it at the same time as
you were finishing your degree.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Absolutely and raising my son Who've holy right? Yeah, of
course that's.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
And so you created the platform, My Walk with MG,
as you mentioned, aimed at addressing the needs of those
living with MG. Can you tell us more about those
needs that you identified? That people have folks who have
MG and why are they so important?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
So after talking to the MG community, and it's so
many people, it knows no age, it knows no gender,
no color, no anything. So the one thing that I
noticed that everyone lack was support. And support is emotional,
is spiritual, it's physical, mental, is all of that, and
(19:47):
not just the people living with it, but the family
and friends. Now, I've been fortunate enough to have the
support coming from every direction, from every part in my life.
So I even grab from them, ask them questions, what
made you support me? What made you do this? What
(20:07):
made you do that? And so restructuring the bridge for
support and emotional support. And it's not always easy for
family and friends to you know, get that understanding. So
how can we do that? So that's really one of
the really big issues. And just being heard. Being heard
(20:29):
is really really hard because most are listening to respond,
but not listening to understand.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
You can imagine just how important Tasha's work is. By
chronicling her journey, she's providing emotional support to others facing
similar health journeys.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
You know, we express ourselves and the next person say,
you know what, Oh I understand, No I don't really
think you do, but thank you for the empathy. So
I did this test with a friend of mine and
I had this weighted, heated blanket and I said lay
down and I laid it on her. I said, and
(21:08):
I try to get up and she struggled. I said,
that's what we struggle.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
And then she understood.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Absolutely, she said I get it now, I said, and
that's just one piece, Like what else do I got here? Yeah,
So that emotional support that bridge is it needs repairing.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
And it sounds like you know, in terms of what
you were able to do and the needs that you
identify were the needs of those caregivers, the people who
were providing the support to be able to you know,
to see them like you said, to listen to them,
but also to provide them what they needed to be
able to support folks who have MG.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Absolutely, and even in our communities police officers is firefighters,
it's em t's that aren't well versed or having heard
of it. I remember one hospital stay that it was
students that came in with the doctors and they always ask,
you know, do you feel comfortable? Can they stay well? Absolutely,
(22:12):
because they have to learn being a massage therapist, you're
going to encounter people with different health issues. Massage is
actually a positive. So they would come in and get
those massages and we had to do a session on
massage and rare diseases and the amount of rare diseases
(22:34):
that come every year, and the list just continuously grow
every year. And what has been the response from my
walk with MG within the MG community. I get quite
a few messages from people nationally internationally because I use
that platform for others to share their stories. So you
(22:57):
get a comment from someone say, I went through that
is so all of those me toos. So just letting
everybody share their story. Share a picture when you were
your happiest, Sure, a picture when you were at your lowest.
You know, however you want to share your story, send
it to us. We're posting it, you know. So just everybody,
(23:19):
even though it's different, we all are, you know, experienced
some kind of similarities. And the one thing I always
tell everybody, no matter what it is, even if it's
coming from one room to the next, because sometimes it
could be hard for us to walk from one room
to the next, please celebrate it. I don't care how
(23:41):
small you think it is. It's magnificent to us because
of what this illness does to our bodies. So celebrate
getting a cup out of the cabinet, Celebrate walking to you know,
from the living room to the kitchen, just celebrate because
you only get one life, that's right. I appreciate the
research information, the clinical information I share when I can,
(24:03):
but that emotional support is my target.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Yes, And it sounds like that is something not only
that you benefited from at such a young age, from
your aunt and your mom and your family, but that
this is something that you are now able to like
fill for other people because it's something like you said,
like doctors know what they're supposed to do, right, but
when it comes to the emotional piece, like who's trained
(24:28):
to do that? Who's you know job?
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Is that? Absolutely? And you know, just life in general
is hard, but when you add on a health issue,
that's just multiplying the difficulty that sometimes life throws. So
not only do you have to navigate regular life, now
you got to navigate your health and then you got
(24:52):
home life. And that's enough to just throw and throwing
rocks at everything outside. So you got to figure out
what works for you. Therapy, I speak to someone once
a month. Please see someone. Have your grieving moments, have
your denial moments, just express yourself. That's right. Our emotions
(25:14):
is tied into this. So when we're upset, we can
start a chain reaction that can decline really really fast.
So learn how to gather yourself. But don't shield yourself.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Because you're not protecting yourself by keeping those emotions in
Absolutely not. It's clear from Tasha's story that while her
early diagnosis certainly wasn't easy, it definitely put her at
an advantage, giving her more time to process what her
diagnosis meant and how she was going to build a
life with MG and strengthen her confidence through the years.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Knowing that, like I said, my support and all of
that really got me through a lot of that stuff.
And the fact that my mom she did not shield me.
She said, if you want to go outside and play,
go outside and play. But she didn't stop me from
doing what I wanted to do. So if I wanted
to travel, I traveled. She told me that doctors told
(26:17):
her what I wouldn't be able to do, even having
children was not recommended for me to do. My son
to be sixteen next month, awesome, almost out of high school,
and we have a ball. So I drive. I learned
how to drive. Wo I got bored, went to school,
got a couple of certifications, and now I got a degree,
(26:38):
you know, just stuff that I wanted to do. I
did it. I pushed myself to see how far my body,
my mind, everything could go. So I know my limits.
I know how to control myself. I learned myself in
remission and I learned myself out of remission, so I
(27:00):
know myself in two different lights. And I still use
the before in the after. So nothing, honestly has really
changed about me. I still do what I want to do,
and I make sure I do what I want to
because I want to be happy and I won't lie.
(27:21):
I still sometimes have my little moments like oh my goodness,
not again, but I get through it. I go through
whatever I have to go through, and then I'm back
on track doing what I gotta do and doing what
I want to do.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Do you have any precautions when you traveled and as
you pushed yourself, did you take steps to manage your MG?
Speaker 2 (27:41):
I did it again around that time. I was still
in remission, but I still utilize the accessible amenities that
are provided for persons with disabilities. So I did do
the wheelchair, but that was the one time thing I
said I think I can walk. But again I was
a little you know self conscious, but I understand why
(28:03):
it's needed. Airports are big, that's a lot of hustle
and bustle walking. So I use those resources to help me,
you know, whenever I need them.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Yeah, And it gets you to where you need to
go and to live the kind of life that you
want to live.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Yes, and reserve my energy and there you go. Like
I said, I'm just blessed. Yeah, my faith, my foundation,
my family that's really kept me afloat. Yes.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
And you mentioned your son, who is a teenager and
through many tough moments. How has your early diagnosis And
you said that deep understanding that you have of your
condition make it easier to explain MG to your son.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
So as he started getting older, so around four or five,
we started teaching him about it. First, we started helping
him how to spell it out, because he's the couldn't
say it then, but he is like my mom, they
can look at me and know when I need to
sit down. Wow. When he turned I believe nine. I
(29:13):
was actually in the hospital during his birthday, so he's
seen treatments and you know, the hospital and all of that.
Kids weary about their parents, and I try not to
get that with him, but he understands. So some of
my friends came in. They brought him up. I got
up that morning, went to the gift shop and just
(29:35):
completely blew money by balloons, candy and everything. Yep, whatever
they got. But James is so and I'm not saying
this because he's my kid, but he's really that kid.
He's respectful and I tell him as much as I
possibly can, thank you for understanding and taking the time
to learn. He's like, Mommy, you my mom, I love you.
(29:57):
And I say yeah, no, but Steve, you know, thank you.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
And he's a boy, he's a teenager. But I don't
have issues with him. So if he say, mom, gon
lay down, I'm going to go lay down. Yeah, it's
not an argument.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Yeah, he's not trying to get not at all.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
If he goes to the doctor with me, he's looking
taking those listening. So if she's doing this, can I
tell her to stop doing this?
Speaker 1 (30:24):
You know?
Speaker 2 (30:24):
So I love this.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
So this is like the next generation of like medical
advocates here that you're training.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Yeah, and I include him in the nonprofit because parents
with children, you know, they have feelings. They're not robots.
So how can my son help them express themselves and
how they feel. So I pulled him right on in.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Yep, You're like, you got something to say, you have
something valuable that people need to hear. Come on, say
it absolutely, Tasha, What inviights do you have or would
you give to your younger self, the person who is
just starting to navigate the complexities of MG. What do
you wish you knew earlier.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
That the opportunities for just opening my mouth and speaking
was going to create all the different things that I've
been able to be a part of. Did I ever
think that I would, you know, have a connection with
different companies and you know, having companies want to know
(31:28):
my point of view or what can we do to
help build you know, in the medical field when it
comes to maya, senior graphics and other rare diseases. I
never would have imagined being sought out. So I would
tell my younger self, girl, just come on and keep
on going at all, you know, taking naps, always taking naps,
(31:54):
but just know that those opportunities, just like I said,
opening your mouth, you have no idea what you're about
to create.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Love that what parts of encouragement would you give to
empower others within the MG? Community, people who might be
struggling right now with personal growth and confidence.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
So I journaled when I was younger. Writing was just
something that I'd love to do. But I'm almost thirty
eight now and I can go back and find a
journal and pull up a date, a random date, just
to see what I was going through then, and then
(32:36):
sit and look at myself. Now that's growth. Yeah, everything
that was on my mind then I don't really think
about because I grew from it. I celebrate my accomplishments,
no matter how big or small. But I love the
connection that I have with the MG community. And I've
(32:57):
never imagined talking to some one in Denmark or West
Africa or Iceland. Wow. Social media is great, the Internet
is great. But just to know that my reach is
that far, you know, just that communication, that's just basically
what it is. Communicating. So using all of that, using
(33:21):
everything that I experience, my feelings, the words told to me,
I share all of that. You know, everybody, like I said,
they say I went through that too, Okay, Well did
you get out of it? Or what else we got
to do to get you out of it? That's me
and you're there for them to be able to do
that absolutely, And you know what, most just really want
(33:44):
to vent how they feel, what they experience. And maybe
I have to go back to school psychology or something.
I don't know, that's your ext degree. I think so,
but they all I get so many thank you for
just listening. Yeah, so many are not me and heard.
So there's another bridge and I'm putting again.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Well we area, Tasha, I heard you today and I
really appreciate your sharing your story and this fantastic journey
that you are still on when it comes to experiencing
your life with MG. So thank you so much for
this time today.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Thank you all so very much for everything.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Thanks again to Tasha for joining me today. Her story
navigating MG through each phase of her life exemplifies the
transformative power of the confidence she's built and embodied along
the way. Thank you for joining us for another episode
of Untold Stories. We'll be taking a short mid season break,
but you can find new episodes starting July seventeenth. Don't
(34:53):
forget to please rate and review wherever you listen to podcasts.
Untold Stories. Life with Severe Autoimmune Condition is produced by
Ruby Studio from iHeartMedia in partnership with Argenis and hosted
by me Martine Hackett. Our executive producer is Mali Soosha.
Our EP of post production is Matt Stillo, along with
(35:14):
supervising producer Sierra Kaiser and post producer Sierra Spreen. This
episode was written by Diana Davis.
Hi everyone, and welcome back to Untold Stories Life with
a severe autoimmune condition. This podcast is a production of
Ruby Studio in partnership with Argenics, and I'm your host,
Martine Hackett. I'm an Associate professor and Director of Public
Health Programs at Hofstra University, and as a researcher, educator,
and public health professional, I've spent my career studying the
(00:26):
complex realities of health care disparities and advocating to do
something about them. On this podcast, I speak with real
people living with severe autoimmune conditions like Mayasthenia gravis or
MG and chronic inflammatory demielinating polyneuropathy otherwise known as CIDP
to help expand the conversation around these shared experiences. Every
(00:51):
person with a severe autoimmune condition has a unique diagnosis,
journey and stories of struggles, resilience and hope. We're here
to shine a light on as many of these amazing
stories as we can, stressing the power of community care
and self advocacy as we embrace this very emotional journey together.
(01:13):
If you're a regular here, you know that we are
all about sharing the real and raw stories of people
living with MG and CIDP today we're exploring the impact
of Mayasthenia gravis, a condition that challenges everyday life, and
the transformative power of confidence to reshape that experience. Building
(01:33):
confidence along the autoimmune journey can help individuals better advocate
for their needs and prioritize self care. Alongside the physical symptoms,
MG can drive many uncertainties, changing one's vision of the
future and the relationships they build when facing moments of
isolation and fear. Cultivating and maintaining confidence becomes a major
(01:58):
part of learning from the experiences and growing through them
to find a new perspective. Sharing her story today is Tasha,
who was diagnosed with MG when she was only six
years old. Though her challenges often felt like a routine
part of daily life, a major MG crisis at the
age of twenty nine tested the confidence she carried both
(02:21):
through her condition management and outlook on life. However, this
experience also sparked an incredible idea. Right from her hospital bed,
Tasha started a platform and nonprofit that wasn't just about
sharing her story, but also empowering and educating others, spreading
hope across the MG community. Tasha's here to take us
(02:44):
through her inspiring journey how she's dealt with lifelong symptoms, setbacks,
and sacrifices throughout her life, and how she's built her
confidence not only to manage her condition, but also to
advocate for and uplift others facing similar experiences. Hi, Tasha,
(03:08):
good morning, Good morning, and thank you so much for
joining us here today, because it is it's all about
you and hearing about your journey. And so let's start
off by recognizing that we know that everyone's MG journey
is unique and being diagnosed at a very young age
is not the typical scenario. Yes, so Tasha, can you
(03:31):
take us on that journey? Can you share with us
what that looked like for you being diagnosed at such
a young age.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So one memory that I have, I was outside playing
with the neighborhood kids. My brother was out there too,
and I just felled to the ground. So I was
close to a fire hydrant and a stop sign and
we didn't know what was going on. But I had
(03:59):
to use fire hydrogen and the stop sign to pull
myself up just to get up. But over I guess
a period of time, my mom started noticing things. You know,
I was not as active as most children at five
six years old. She said, I'd kind of laid down
a lot, like I didn't have enough energy, so that
(04:21):
prompted her to get me checked out.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
My aesthenia gravis is rare. According to the Children's Hospital
of Philadelphia, about ten and one million people are diagnosed
each year, and just ten percent of those diagnosed with
the condition are children. And how did that early diagnosis
affect how you interacted with your peers.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Well, at six, I really didn't know what was going on.
So I do remember, you know, having to get blood
drawn and then I could never say the name of
this particular treatment for diagnosis. But I had my muscles
stimulated with the election. Well I don't want to say electricity,
but I was shocked, so I vividly remember that and
(05:07):
crying and screaming, you know, like Mom, why are they
doing this? Stop? And all of that. So I tested
positive for the antibody, so my diagnosis came back rather quickly.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Well, yeah, and like we said, it's such a young age,
which it's not typical for most folks in their MG journey.
Thinking back to that time, what was your understanding of
how you were diagnosed?
Speaker 2 (05:32):
I don't know. I do remember my mom crying in
the doctor's office, and the nurse took me out when
it got me some gram crackers and candy. So I'm
assuming that the doctor wanted the tides of my mom.
But when I got back into the room, she was
crying and I wiped her face and I said, Mom,
it's going to be okay. I didn't know what was
going on. I didn't even know how to say, you
(05:54):
know what it was that I had, couldn't pronounce the medications.
But I do remember that. And after that I had
the diymectomy. I remember that day I was in the
hospital had it done, and I remember waking up asking
the doctor, is it okay to wake up now? So
I was in recovery then. Yeah. So just trying to
(06:17):
grasp all of that at a young age was really difficult,
and I never disclosed anything to anybody, even my friends.
So they actually learned about it about me with my
sn and gravits back in September twenty fifteen, and they
were so mad.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yes to all those years you knew at such a
young age, but you didn't share that with your friends.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Not at all. I knew that I had to do
things differently, but I never told them. I was always
in my head, always self conscious about it, So why
would I say it? And then it's kind of a mood.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Killer, and you're like, you don't want to be that girl?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
Yeah, I did. Didn't want to be that person, but
my mom and my dad made sure that I functioned
like a normal child would wonderful.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And so you said how you didn't really share that
information about your MG diagnosis with your friends, But how
did you perceive MG as part of your life? What
stands out for you during that time?
Speaker 2 (07:23):
I think because of the diomectomy, I felt like I
had energy. So I made myself go out and play kickball.
I made myself go out and just be a normal kid.
I didn't want to be sick. I didn't want to
present myself as sick. And then again, I don't know
how to say it. I don't know how to spell it,
(07:45):
and I didn't know how to explain what it was.
So if I did disclose that information and you know,
my friends said, well, what is it, my response would be,
I don't know. I'm just tired.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
All the time you mentioned trying to grasp your situation
at a very young age. Was there a single moment
when you realized things are different for me.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Yes, I went through a grieving process throughout my life.
When I was in my teens and I did see someone,
I talked to someone. It was hard. You know, I'm
entering high school. You know, doctors are still telling me, well,
you can't do this, you can't do that. Stop telling
me what I can't do, because I'm gonna do it.
I'm just going to go out and do it. But
(08:29):
I was able to participate in things at school, but
I did kind of duck off when I didn't have
a lot of energy. But that grieving process really did
a lot. It woke me up. I'm just really fortunate
that I have so many great people, family, friends, even
strangers that actually take the time and took the time
(08:51):
to learn me, you know, and learn about MG. So
that's the great benefit of it.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Yeah, and it sounds like, you know, you also found
your own voice in terms of advocating for yourself along
your MG journey. And you talked about your support system.
Can you tell a little bit more about who has
been an important part of your support system along the way.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Of course, my parents. My dad got rested, so for
a long time he didn't know how to say it himself,
but he knew that I needed that support. My mom,
of course, being my number one caregiver. Yeah, she made
sure I took my meds, how to take my meds, everything.
But I had an inside man and it was one
(09:38):
of my aunts. She actually recently passed this past January,
but she had MG as well, so outside of the
medical part, I literally had my own inside man. So
she taught me what MG could do, how MG could
get the different meds and things like that. So from
(10:02):
ninety three to September twenty fifteen, I was symptom free,
med free. I didn't even know that it was other treatments.
I didn't know it was so many other individuals until
I just got on Facebook one day, literally just laying
down and put in a searche mis eno GRAVIS and
(10:23):
all of these different groups popped up and I was like,
wait a minute, So got in the group, introduced myself,
gave a little bit, and everybody was so amazed at
how well I had been doing, and it was like
an introduction to a different side of me. And that's
when I had my first crisis.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Tasha talks about her aunt, who also battled MG some
of you might be curious if that's just by chance
or if MG runs in families. Medicine Plus, a service
of the National Library of Medicine, explains that MG usually
isn't inherited and often appears in people without any family
history of the disorder. However, about three to five percent
(11:05):
of those with MG do have relatives with the same condition,
though how it's passed down isn't clear. For Tasha, having
her aunt to lean on through her biggest challenges was
a tremendous help. And thinking about your aunt, like you said,
your inside man, the person who really kind of gave
(11:26):
you that guidance and understanding and insight into living with MG.
Could you talk a little bit more about what role
she played in helping build your self advocacy and your confidence.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
She told me, if you feel something, let the doctor know,
and if the doctor is not basically listening to you,
request someone new. She said. The overall purpose of a
medical professional is to take care of their patients because
you all work as a team. If one person on
the team falls down, then you know you got to
(12:00):
have that Foundations will get them back up, and MG
will knock you down, so they have to get you
back to your baseline and get you to where you
can function daily. But if they are not providing the
support for you, find you another doctor. She said. It's
just like, yeah, she was extremely hard on letting me
(12:22):
know you have a choice, you have a voice. Wow.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I mean, just to get that lesson at such a
young age, just it's like you never forget that, I'm.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Sure at all.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
Tasha truly benefited from her aunt's support and experience, learning
that confidence is not only about self perception, but also
about finding the right team you can trust and on
which you can rely, trusting your doctors. Her advice really
highlights the critical importance of communication and advocating for yourself,
(12:58):
especially when managing MG or any autoimmune condition.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
So I actually got to see what MG could do.
I got a chance to see how low it could
get for someone with it. I never saw anyone or
anything or read anything that would break up person down
like that. So when I got that frontline view, it
(13:29):
literally scared the daylights out of me. But it also
helped me to get myself to a point where I
spoke to myself and says, you know, Atisha, what can
you do to minimize aggravating yourself, aggravating symptoms and things
like that. But again, at this time, I was still
symptom free, still mad free. But watching her navigate and
(13:52):
everything from then up until the time she passed really
got me into a space where I live as best
as I possibly can. I do everything that I want
to do. I take numerous amounts of naps, which I
think it should just be a daily thing for everybody,
(14:12):
but nap says resistance, right. But yeah, I just got
into a space for myself where I only have one
life and being a parent, I'm going to have fun.
I'm going to do it. And she made sure to
tell me just always try to do whatever it is
that you want to do, don't limit yourself.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
And that absolutely has come to pass for sure. Yes,
we'll be back with more untold stories after a quick break.
As a global immunology company committed to improving the lives
of people suffering from severe autoimmune conditions, Ourgenics is dedicated
(14:52):
to researching transformative medicines through clinical trials. Clinical trials help
enhance lives, improve care, and support rec search toward a
cure for various rare conditions. By participating in a clinical trial.
You can help improve the quality of life for people
living with rare autoimmune conditions and those who will be
in the future by helping discover the effectiveness of new treatments.
(15:15):
For more information about upcoming clinical trials, visit argenics dot
com slash patients slash clinical dash Trials. And now back
to untold stories. You also mentioned a little later on
(15:36):
that you had a significant empty crisis in your late
twenties that also sort of shifted your outlook and your condition.
Could you describe that time and how is it pivotal
in your journey?
Speaker 2 (15:49):
So I didn't know that triggers well what triggers were,
and this particular time, it was kind of warmy size
steal warm. It was September, and outside of the heat,
I was triggered in a stressful situation and the double
vision came back, and I hadn't had double vision in years.
(16:13):
But my lips and my tongue started tingling, and I
just felt heavy, not to the point where my body
or my limbs would give out, but I just felt heavy.
And then my speech started slurring. Well, I knew about
the double vision, but the slurred speech I had never experienced.
And then The tingling of the lips and the tongue
(16:34):
is not a typical symptom of MG, but that's mine.
So that's when I ended up in an emergency room.
Very traumatic, by the way, And yeah, that was my
very first crisis, right, And it sounds like it also
sort of shifted everything for you on your MG journey.
(16:56):
It did. It was so so scary. I went in
and the eor doctor that was on staff thought I
was having a stroke and I told him no through
slurge speech, yelling at him, you know, this is not
what's going on. So after he left, the nurse that
(17:18):
was getting me back together, trying to calm me down,
she told me, at that time in her twenty five
plus years, I was the second person she encountered with MG.
That's when the light bulb came on.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
And how did your outlook on your future change?
Speaker 2 (17:33):
After that? I went back to school awesome, because I
knew that in my life I was going to help people.
I didn't know how. So I sat down, I said, Mom,
I want to start a nonprofit. I want to help
people with MG, but I want to do it from
a different point of view.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
That's a common thread among the stories we hear individuals
navy the hardest parts of their condition and then there's
that transformative aha moment that changes everything.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
So it took me two and a half years. I
went back to school April of twenty seventeen, but in
between that time I was still struggling trying to get
back to my baseline. So I did have a few
more moments in the hospital. So I'm in the hospital,
in my hospital bed, getting treatment, but I'm in class.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
What.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Yes, I was determined to get this done. I built
it from the ground up and just used myself. I
took pictures, I did videos, I did everything, and I
put it on Facebook and when I was ready, I
published the fan page and everything went viral.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
Yes, and you did it at the same time as
you were finishing your degree.
Speaker 2 (18:57):
Absolutely and raising my son Who've holy right? Yeah, of
course that's.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
And so you created the platform, My Walk with MG,
as you mentioned, aimed at addressing the needs of those
living with MG. Can you tell us more about those
needs that you identified? That people have folks who have
MG and why are they so important?
Speaker 2 (19:22):
So after talking to the MG community, and it's so
many people, it knows no age, it knows no gender,
no color, no anything. So the one thing that I
noticed that everyone lack was support. And support is emotional,
is spiritual, it's physical, mental, is all of that, and
(19:47):
not just the people living with it, but the family
and friends. Now, I've been fortunate enough to have the
support coming from every direction, from every part in my life.
So I even grab from them, ask them questions, what
made you support me? What made you do this? What
(20:07):
made you do that? And so restructuring the bridge for
support and emotional support. And it's not always easy for
family and friends to you know, get that understanding. So
how can we do that? So that's really one of
the really big issues. And just being heard. Being heard
(20:29):
is really really hard because most are listening to respond,
but not listening to understand.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
You can imagine just how important Tasha's work is. By
chronicling her journey, she's providing emotional support to others facing
similar health journeys.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
You know, we express ourselves and the next person say,
you know what, Oh I understand, No I don't really
think you do, but thank you for the empathy. So
I did this test with a friend of mine and
I had this weighted, heated blanket and I said lay
down and I laid it on her. I said, and
(21:08):
I try to get up and she struggled. I said,
that's what we struggle.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
And then she understood.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Absolutely, she said I get it now, I said, and
that's just one piece, Like what else do I got here? Yeah,
So that emotional support that bridge is it needs repairing.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
And it sounds like you know, in terms of what
you were able to do and the needs that you
identify were the needs of those caregivers, the people who
were providing the support to be able to you know,
to see them like you said, to listen to them,
but also to provide them what they needed to be
able to support folks who have MG.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
Absolutely, and even in our communities police officers is firefighters,
it's em t's that aren't well versed or having heard
of it. I remember one hospital stay that it was
students that came in with the doctors and they always ask,
you know, do you feel comfortable? Can they stay well? Absolutely,
(22:12):
because they have to learn being a massage therapist, you're
going to encounter people with different health issues. Massage is
actually a positive. So they would come in and get
those massages and we had to do a session on
massage and rare diseases and the amount of rare diseases
(22:34):
that come every year, and the list just continuously grow
every year. And what has been the response from my
walk with MG within the MG community. I get quite
a few messages from people nationally internationally because I use
that platform for others to share their stories. So you
(22:57):
get a comment from someone say, I went through that
is so all of those me toos. So just letting
everybody share their story. Share a picture when you were
your happiest, Sure, a picture when you were at your lowest.
You know, however you want to share your story, send
it to us. We're posting it, you know. So just everybody,
(23:19):
even though it's different, we all are, you know, experienced
some kind of similarities. And the one thing I always
tell everybody, no matter what it is, even if it's
coming from one room to the next, because sometimes it
could be hard for us to walk from one room
to the next, please celebrate it. I don't care how
(23:41):
small you think it is. It's magnificent to us because
of what this illness does to our bodies. So celebrate
getting a cup out of the cabinet, Celebrate walking to you know,
from the living room to the kitchen, just celebrate because
you only get one life, that's right. I appreciate the
research information, the clinical information I share when I can,
(24:03):
but that emotional support is my target.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Yes, And it sounds like that is something not only
that you benefited from at such a young age, from
your aunt and your mom and your family, but that
this is something that you are now able to like
fill for other people because it's something like you said,
like doctors know what they're supposed to do, right, but
when it comes to the emotional piece, like who's trained
(24:28):
to do that? Who's you know job?
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Is that? Absolutely? And you know, just life in general
is hard, but when you add on a health issue,
that's just multiplying the difficulty that sometimes life throws. So
not only do you have to navigate regular life, now
you got to navigate your health and then you got
(24:52):
home life. And that's enough to just throw and throwing
rocks at everything outside. So you got to figure out
what works for you. Therapy, I speak to someone once
a month. Please see someone. Have your grieving moments, have
your denial moments, just express yourself. That's right. Our emotions
(25:14):
is tied into this. So when we're upset, we can
start a chain reaction that can decline really really fast.
So learn how to gather yourself. But don't shield yourself.
Speaker 1 (25:29):
Because you're not protecting yourself by keeping those emotions in
Absolutely not. It's clear from Tasha's story that while her
early diagnosis certainly wasn't easy, it definitely put her at
an advantage, giving her more time to process what her
diagnosis meant and how she was going to build a
life with MG and strengthen her confidence through the years.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Knowing that, like I said, my support and all of
that really got me through a lot of that stuff.
And the fact that my mom she did not shield me.
She said, if you want to go outside and play,
go outside and play. But she didn't stop me from
doing what I wanted to do. So if I wanted
to travel, I traveled. She told me that doctors told
(26:17):
her what I wouldn't be able to do, even having
children was not recommended for me to do. My son
to be sixteen next month, awesome, almost out of high school,
and we have a ball. So I drive. I learned
how to drive. Wo I got bored, went to school,
got a couple of certifications, and now I got a degree,
(26:38):
you know, just stuff that I wanted to do. I
did it. I pushed myself to see how far my body,
my mind, everything could go. So I know my limits.
I know how to control myself. I learned myself in
remission and I learned myself out of remission, so I
(27:00):
know myself in two different lights. And I still use
the before in the after. So nothing, honestly has really
changed about me. I still do what I want to do,
and I make sure I do what I want to
because I want to be happy and I won't lie.
(27:21):
I still sometimes have my little moments like oh my goodness,
not again, but I get through it. I go through
whatever I have to go through, and then I'm back
on track doing what I gotta do and doing what
I want to do.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
Do you have any precautions when you traveled and as
you pushed yourself, did you take steps to manage your MG?
Speaker 2 (27:41):
I did it again around that time. I was still
in remission, but I still utilize the accessible amenities that
are provided for persons with disabilities. So I did do
the wheelchair, but that was the one time thing I
said I think I can walk. But again I was
a little you know self conscious, but I understand why
(28:03):
it's needed. Airports are big, that's a lot of hustle
and bustle walking. So I use those resources to help me,
you know, whenever I need them.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Yeah, And it gets you to where you need to
go and to live the kind of life that you
want to live.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
Yes, and reserve my energy and there you go. Like
I said, I'm just blessed. Yeah, my faith, my foundation,
my family that's really kept me afloat. Yes.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
And you mentioned your son, who is a teenager and
through many tough moments. How has your early diagnosis And
you said that deep understanding that you have of your
condition make it easier to explain MG to your son.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
So as he started getting older, so around four or five,
we started teaching him about it. First, we started helping
him how to spell it out, because he's the couldn't
say it then, but he is like my mom, they
can look at me and know when I need to
sit down. Wow. When he turned I believe nine. I
(29:13):
was actually in the hospital during his birthday, so he's
seen treatments and you know, the hospital and all of that.
Kids weary about their parents, and I try not to
get that with him, but he understands. So some of
my friends came in. They brought him up. I got
up that morning, went to the gift shop and just
(29:35):
completely blew money by balloons, candy and everything. Yep, whatever
they got. But James is so and I'm not saying
this because he's my kid, but he's really that kid.
He's respectful and I tell him as much as I
possibly can, thank you for understanding and taking the time
to learn. He's like, Mommy, you my mom, I love you.
(29:57):
And I say yeah, no, but Steve, you know, thank you.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
And he's a boy, he's a teenager. But I don't
have issues with him. So if he say, mom, gon
lay down, I'm going to go lay down. Yeah, it's
not an argument.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
Yeah, he's not trying to get not at all.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
If he goes to the doctor with me, he's looking
taking those listening. So if she's doing this, can I
tell her to stop doing this?
Speaker 1 (30:24):
You know?
Speaker 2 (30:24):
So I love this.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
So this is like the next generation of like medical
advocates here that you're training.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
Yeah, and I include him in the nonprofit because parents
with children, you know, they have feelings. They're not robots.
So how can my son help them express themselves and
how they feel. So I pulled him right on in.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
Yep, You're like, you got something to say, you have
something valuable that people need to hear. Come on, say
it absolutely, Tasha, What inviights do you have or would
you give to your younger self, the person who is
just starting to navigate the complexities of MG. What do
you wish you knew earlier.
Speaker 2 (31:06):
That the opportunities for just opening my mouth and speaking
was going to create all the different things that I've
been able to be a part of. Did I ever
think that I would, you know, have a connection with
different companies and you know, having companies want to know
(31:28):
my point of view or what can we do to
help build you know, in the medical field when it
comes to maya, senior graphics and other rare diseases. I
never would have imagined being sought out. So I would
tell my younger self, girl, just come on and keep
on going at all, you know, taking naps, always taking naps,
(31:54):
but just know that those opportunities, just like I said,
opening your mouth, you have no idea what you're about
to create.
Speaker 1 (32:02):
Love that what parts of encouragement would you give to
empower others within the MG? Community, people who might be
struggling right now with personal growth and confidence.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
So I journaled when I was younger. Writing was just
something that I'd love to do. But I'm almost thirty
eight now and I can go back and find a
journal and pull up a date, a random date, just
to see what I was going through then, and then
(32:36):
sit and look at myself. Now that's growth. Yeah, everything
that was on my mind then I don't really think
about because I grew from it. I celebrate my accomplishments,
no matter how big or small. But I love the
connection that I have with the MG community. And I've
(32:57):
never imagined talking to some one in Denmark or West
Africa or Iceland. Wow. Social media is great, the Internet
is great. But just to know that my reach is
that far, you know, just that communication, that's just basically
what it is. Communicating. So using all of that, using
(33:21):
everything that I experience, my feelings, the words told to me,
I share all of that. You know, everybody, like I said,
they say I went through that too, Okay, Well did
you get out of it? Or what else we got
to do to get you out of it? That's me
and you're there for them to be able to do
that absolutely, And you know what, most just really want
(33:44):
to vent how they feel, what they experience. And maybe
I have to go back to school psychology or something.
I don't know, that's your ext degree. I think so,
but they all I get so many thank you for
just listening. Yeah, so many are not me and heard.
So there's another bridge and I'm putting again.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Well we area, Tasha, I heard you today and I
really appreciate your sharing your story and this fantastic journey
that you are still on when it comes to experiencing
your life with MG. So thank you so much for
this time today.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Thank you all so very much for everything.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Thanks again to Tasha for joining me today. Her story
navigating MG through each phase of her life exemplifies the
transformative power of the confidence she's built and embodied along
the way. Thank you for joining us for another episode
of Untold Stories. We'll be taking a short mid season break,
but you can find new episodes starting July seventeenth. Don't
(34:53):
forget to please rate and review wherever you listen to podcasts.
Untold Stories. Life with Severe Autoimmune Condition is produced by
Ruby Studio from iHeartMedia in partnership with Argenis and hosted
by me Martine Hackett. Our executive producer is Mali Soosha.
Our EP of post production is Matt Stillo, along with
(35:14):
supervising producer Sierra Kaiser and post producer Sierra Spreen. This
episode was written by Diana Davis.
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