Back in 1991, when I was 6 years old, I was like every other kid. Enjoying school, learning to write, to read, making new friends. I was always playing pranks. Always talking with Andreanne. Often sent to the Principal's office because I talked too much and was disturbing the other students...
Around the middle of the year, I got chickenpox. At the same time, I caught a cold. I was given antibiotics. And I also got a vaccine. Little did I know it would affect me for the rest of my life...
I was getting weaker and weaker by the day. Big bumps started to appear on my legs. I kept throwing up. And after a while, I couldn't even walk anymore. I remember one night, I was sitting on the couch. My mom started taking off my tights and asked where did those bumps on my ankles come from. I said I fell at school. Then I stood up and fell, I couldn't walk. My mom took me to the hospital. I was dehydrated so I was hospitalized.
I remember I had a favorite nurse. She was so nice. She was young and she seemed to understand exactly what I needed. I had no idea what was going on. But while my parents weren't in the room with me, they were talking with the doctors. I guess that's when they learned about the Henoch-Schoenlein Syndrome also known as "Purpura" (in my case). It's a syndrome that affects the immunitary system. It totally mess it up. And later in the years, there are chances of seizures.
When I came back home, I wasn't allowed to walk either. So I was crawling on the floor. I remember, my mother's friends from work sent me flowers and a little stuffed animal. It's a little pink rabbit that can be changed into a pillow. I still have it :o)
From 6 to 13 years old, I had been fine, although I fell and needed stiches on my right eyebrow at 7 years old. And at 8 years old I got a concussion. On December 23rd, 1993... Christmas scare thanks to a classmate who pushed me and I fell on the ice.
Around 14 years old, problems started again. One morning, I woke up and my bedroom was spinning. I kept moving my arms and was trying to grab something to hold on to. When it stopped, I threw up. What was it all about ? We all know balance come from ears, right ? ... One of my ears had huge problems...
