AANEM is proud to help increase understanding about myasthenia gravis (MG) during MG Awareness Month! Take a moment to read
Taylor’s story about a young woman recently diagnosed with MG and view available AANEM resources to help expand your knowledge.
What is MG?
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disorder causing weakness and easy fatigue of voluntary muscles. It is caused by a breakdown in the communication between nerves and muscles, usually because of an immunological problem. Early symptoms are eyelid drooping, double vision, weakness of the face, swallowing, chewing, and weakness of the limbs.
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Meet Taylor: A 21-Year-Old College Student and Division I Athlete Living With MG
Just 21-years-old with one year left of college, Taylor already has many achievements for which to be proud. The girl who first skated at 11-months-old is now a Division I athlete, having played three seasons on the women’s hockey team at the University of Minnesota. In 2016, Taylor’s life was at an all-time high, as she helped her Golden Gopher team win the national women’s hockey championship.
But in February 2017, things began to feel out of sorts for Taylor.
“From time to time, I started noticing inconsistency when I was speaking … it was embarrassing, frustrating, and really concerning. I thought the speaking issue would subside, so I didn’t say anything to anyone, but then I started experiencing some facial problems … mainly my inability to smile,” said Taylor.
Taylor next noticed a difficulty in chewing and swallowing food. Then came the muscle weakness. After a doctor’s visit, a mass was found in Taylor’s brain and she had emergency brain surgery.
Following the surgery, however, her slurred speech crept back and Taylor noticed a significant decline in her athletic performance.
At the end of September 2017, she went back to the ER. Shortly after that visit, she was diagnosed with MG.
“I was introduced to a new obstacle that is arguably the toughest challenge I have gone through in my entire life. All I focused on from that point forward was having faith, staying positive, and taking this scary and difficult battle day by day.”
Read more about Taylor and the impact MG has had on her life.
AANEM Resources on MG
Please note that some of the materials below may be accessible to AANEM members only.
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America’s Annual Scientific Session – Submit Your Abstract by June 15, 2018
Do you have research to share about myasthenia gravis or other disorders of the neuromuscular junction? If so,
submit an abstract for the annual Scientific Session of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc. (MGFA) by June 15, 2018. The MGFA Scientific Session is being held in conjunction with the AANEM Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.
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Make a Donation
During June, as we recognize MG Awareness Month, consider making a
donation to the AANEM Foundation. Your donation will fund scientific research to help find treatments and cures for neuromuscular diseases like MG.
Donate today.