Focus Fridays #24--A misdiagnosis is not the end for Jean Abbott

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So, I want to tell you a little more about Jean Sharon Abbott, who I mentioned briefly a couple of weeks ago.

She spent the first 33 years of her life believing she had a disease known as Spastic Diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy. She lived through pain, surgery, and long days in bed and a wheelchair. She married and had two daughters, one of whom would introduce herself by saying her name and adding, "My mom can't walk."




Then, on Good Friday a few years ago, Jean met Dr. Martha Nance, who said something Jean didn't believe at first. This new specialist didn't think Jean had Spastic Diplegia at all, but Dopa Responsive Dystonia. "DRD" is a different illness, one that is treatable with medication.

Two days later--on Easter Sunday--Jean walked unassisted for the first time. Four months later, with exercise, training and the encouragement of her husband, they celebrated their ten-year anniversary with a ten-mile hike where they had once honeymooned. At month six, she was wearing high heels. She has now given birth to another baby--a son. She not only walks, but can drive and dance at weddings.

Recently, she made a video to raise awareness about DRD. That video went viral as she was featured by news outlets around the world.

The most amazing part of this story?

Her attitude.

As I briefly mentioned in Focus Fridays #21, Jean doesn't live with anger and regrets. Her parents had taken her to some of the best doctors in the country, who missed the diagnosis of this rare disorder. She says that her experiences in childhood helped her to grow stronger, and she would do it all again. After Dr. Nance discovered the truth and set her on the road to recovery, Jean was not bitter. She was grateful.

Please say a prayer for this precious family!

Want to know more? Click here!  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3047729/Woman-spent-30-YEARS-fighting-debilitating-cerebral-palsy-discovers-misdiagnosed-symptoms-cured-just-one-pill.html 

Or here: http://www.today.com/video/woman-misdiagnosed-with-cerebral-palsy-for-33-years-441367619953

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