Devistation at 18 yrs old.

I had just graduated from High School and was working at a snow shack for the summer until i could find a better job. One night my Dad picked me up after work (my car was totaled) and I told him my feet were hurting and swollen with weird red blotches all over them. He said you probably have the same foot problem as me, i will give you some cream when we get home to put on it. We got home my Mom said she would rub the cream on my feet for me, as i lifted up my feet i could see the shock on my Mom's face. She called my Dad up to come look at it and they quickly realized that something wasn't right, my feet were twice their size, covered in dark red blotches that were turning into sores. The next day my Mom called the dermatologist and made me an appointment, of course it's a long wait so my Mom decided to take me to our family doctor in the mean time to see if she could get me some help with the pain. When we arrived and showed the doctor he called the dermatologist immediately and told him i needed to get in right away. He didn't know what was wrong but thought it could be very serious. The next day i went to the dermatologist, it could be one of two things he said, one could kill me the other is very uncommon and he wasn't really sure what would happen. He took a biopsy of a sore on my foot and would let me know what he found out as soon as it came back. 4 days later the doctors office called and asked me to come in the next day to go over the results, i go there the next day very nervous, then the doctor said, Macie you have small vessel Vasculitis. I wasn't sure what that meant but he began to tell me this is the one he was telling me about that Doctors don't know much about and that is was going to be a very long and challenging road. The things he did know is, i can have it the rest of my life or one day it will just go away and he also knew it was more common in older people. My heart sank thinking i might not be able to walk again because of the pain and doctors not knowing what to do. My symptoms only became worse after this, vasculitis attacks your joints so some days i couldn't get out of bed, other days i couldn't even move my hands due to the pain. It also created ulcers on my legs that got so bad i had to have a soft cast on my lower leg down over my foot for 1 month. He gave me all kinds of medicine and nothing seemed to be working, here try this, ok well that didn't work try this, i felt so helpless. After months of suffering things got even worse. One night i got a terrible flu, i was in the bathroom every 15min and was exhausted i had been dealing with it for about 12hrs when i finally fell asleep. All of the sudden about 30min later i felt the urge to go to the bathroom again, i jumped out of bed but took a minute to move because i couldn't see very well, everything just seemed like i was in a bubble and all sounds were muffled. Still i needed to go to the bathroom and once i did i found out something was very wrong, i couldn't feel my whole left side of my body, i couldn't get my pants all the way down so i just went in the toilet only to find out there was nothing but blood in the toilet. I told my Mom, and she rushed me to the hospital. After many tests and 3 days in the hospital they decided i probably had a seizure. My whole left side of my body was numb for about a year after that. While at the hospital they did an MRI and found out that i had a dis-formation in my brain they were not sure if i was born with it or if it was a tumor, 3 MRI's later and the doctor telling me i might have to have brain surgery they found out it wasn't growing so they weren't worried about it. By this time i had been to 5 doctors trying to figure out what to do until finally i was referred to Dr Stromquist, he found the medicine that finally worked for me. I still have Vasculitis and still will get small outbreaks but for the most part i feel good and am so grateful for my doctor who has changed my life. 

Introduction

Hi, My Name is Macie Reimschussel, I am 28 yrs old and loving life! I am going to do a short introduction into my life then start from about the time i was 18yrs old. I have been Married to my amazing husband Jacob now for 3yrs. He is the most kind, loving, gentle, hard working man i know and i love him so much! I knew him for about 8 yrs before we got married, June 24, 2010

One year after getting married we bought our first home together in Lehi, UT. Five months later we found out we were pregnant with our first child, a baby boy.

Bridger Jay born November 23, 2012

Bridger was born one month early and weighed 5lbs 7oz. He spent 15 days in the nicu until he was strong enough to come home with us.

He has been the best thing to happen to me sense my husband. I love him so much, he is such a light and joy to our family. He smiles all the time and loves food (much like his Mom).

We also have two cats, Rash and Livie and will be getting our first puppy tomorrow, Koda. I grew up on a mini farm so i love animals and think all kids should have a pet growing up.

 I have had a lot of struggles in my life, i have always been teased and struggle with my weight. I work hard to try to lose weight but have a very hard time keeping it off. I also have a rare disease called small vessel vasculitis, which attacks my joints and has been a big trial for me. Still i love my life and couldn't ask for a better family to help me through good times and bad. I am surrounded with Love! I have grown up in a home that has taught me the gospel and about eternal families, I Love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints!

I am very excited about this new blog, i have always wanted to be a writer and know not everyone wants to listen to my life story but if i touch even help just one person then it's worth every second. Until next time!!