Determined To Get Well
The literary hero Atticus Finch said, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.” When Tanya-Marie isn’t working as a claims adjuster for a car insurance company, she loves visiting the library and reading — “To Kill A Mockingbird” is her favorite book. The work supports her as well as her two grown children.
“My son is a red-shirt junior at Nicholls State,” Tanya-Marie said. “I love getting to watch him on ESPN playing basketball.”
More than 20 years ago, Tanya-Marie began a medical journey faced by too many people. After a series of unexplained falls, Tanya-Marie went from doctor to doctor — over a dozen — looking for answers. Tanya-Marie and her mother knew something was wrong, but her doctors didn’t believe her.
“One doctor told me it was in my head, that I was making it up,” she said. “She wanted to put me in a hold at a psychological ward.”
One moment Tanya-Marie would be fine, the next she would fall; she was tired, and her hands went numb. Tanya-Marie’s supportive mother never stopped believing she was truly sick.
“You have to advocate for yourself,” Tanya-Marie said. “My mom was adamant about that.”
It wasn’t until she saw a cardiologist and wore a heart monitor that Tanya-Marie discovered the cause of her symptoms. Her cardiologist ordered an MRI that showed Tanya-Marie was living with multiple sclerosis (MS). In people living with MS, the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.
For years, Tanya-Marie accessed her treatment through her employer-based insurance. When her circumstances changed and she could no longer afford the out-of-pocket costs of her medications, Tanya-Marie’s doctor suggested she apply to The Assistance Fund’s (TAF’s) Multiple Sclerosis Copay Assistance Program. The program provides financial assistance for all FDA-approved treatment for MS.
“I didn’t think I’d be approved, but TAF made it so easy,” Tanya-Marie said. “The treatment is like a vitamin for my spinal cord.”
In early 2020, Tanya-Marie underwent a stem cell transplant. After a subsequent fall, she began a four-month stint in physical therapy. When Tanya-Marie’s granddaughter kept asking about why she had been away and when she was coming home, Tanya-Marie was at a loss for words.
“I can’t explain MS to a four-year-old,” she said.
The incident inspired Tanya-Marie to put her passion for reading into writing her first children’s book, “MS Is Not Meatballs and Spaghetti.” The story, featuring Milky and Umi, shows how people living with MS continue to live productive lives.
“Other books made it too complicated, so I made one myself,” Tanya-Marie said. “It’s just a simple book so little kids can understand.”
Now Tanya-Marie is working on a sequel and animated series for Milky and Umi. With TAF assistance, Tanya-Marie is reading, writing, and focusing on her family.
“TAF has made it very easy,” she said with a smile.
To read or purchase Tanya-Marie’s story, email Tanya-Marie at MilkyandUmi@gmail.com
