Some illnesses elude even the most educated and experienced medical professionals. Yet, no matter how rare their disease, people need to be diagnosed quickly for an accurate treatment plan to be initiated.
Shasta Partee knows this more than most. Her daughter Nae’mya, suddenly began experiencing shaky legs. It was so severe, Shasta rushed her to the hospital for testing, but doctors were mystified. That is when their journey became increasingly frightening… and lonely.
They saw a number of experts, but without answers, they began to lose hope.
It took six months before Nae’mya was correctly diagnosed with dystonia.
Dystonia is a condition of the brain in which a person has sustained involuntary contractions of muscles. It can be very painful as it may produce:
- twisting movements
- cramping
- tremors
- abnormal posture
Some cases of dystonia are genetic, but for most people, the cause is unknown. There is no cure, only treatment to provide relief for the symptoms.
It is often misdiagnosed due to its similarity to other conditions, and the fact that symptoms vary from patient to patient, even within the same family.
Today, Shasta is working hard to raise awareness about dystonia with the hope that other families will not have to wait for a diagnosis.
