A.S. Face 1308: Cheryl Keith
My name is Cheryl and I’ve been diagnosed with AS for 15 years, but undiagnosed for AT LEAST another 15.
I have never known much abut my disease until I found the support groups on Facebook.
I am a mom of grown sons and have gained 100lbs as I’ve become less and less mobile while taking more and more drugs and steroids. I’ve used a scooter to walk distances for the past 6 years.
This disease has attempted to beat me down, taking all the things I loved away. I used to walk 3-miles each evening for exercise. Now I walk 20 feet. I used to be a social person who loved to be out in crowds, shopping, partying, and dancing. I cannot comfortab ly perform those things these days. My 4 acre yard had new flower beds and varieties of plants every year. I used to read books ravenously, but vascular problems in my right temple caused me to suffer an optic nerve stroke. I have a blind spot that allows only a slight amount of reading, in increments.
Today, I started PT and tomorrow will be getting my first epidural, hoping to walk without pain. I went to college when my sons were grown and obtaine4d a MS in Psychology. I graduated Magna cum laude, now I no longer work and will begin to get SSDI in July.
The pictures above are from various times in my life. I take these pictures everytime I meet a new Dr. I want them to be able to see “me”, not some overweight person caused by AS and its treatment and difficulties. Although I greatly grieved my losses, I have learned ways to compensate. We still travel, dine out and socialize(in a smaller group) and I try to garden.
Thank you for your time, Cheryl Keith
This is the Cheryl of today.
Pennsylvania, United States of America
Dear Cheryl,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
Sincerely Cookie
Cheryl: You are still a beautiful person! You have accomplished so much in your life…no one can take that away, especially A.S.! Enjoy every day doing what you are comfortable doing! This helps me! Stephania(Face #445)