Looking at Me,
You Would Never Guess...

          ...that I have a chronic incurable neurological disease.  Hi, my name is Joanna Rose Benavidez. I am 19 years old.

          I am full of life and always wear a smile on my face. I have always been a go-getter. I graduated high school early at the age of 16 along with 40 college credits because I attended college concurrently while attending high school. I then decided to join the United States Air Force in 2005 at the age of 17. I earned my EMT license and became an Aerospace Medical Service Technician. I loved my job and loved the military.

Then in 2006 something horrible started happening; horrible pain, excruciating headaches, unbearable fatigue. The doctors decided to perform a spinal tap and MRI imaging of my brain. What they found was heartbreaking. They found oligoclonal bands in my spinal fluid and multiple lesions on my brain. I was diagnosed in February 2007 with  Multiple Sclerosis.

From then on my life would never be the same. I had to start taking painful shots everyday, get MRI imaging done regularly, be admitted into hospitals frequently, and worry about insurance policies and immunomodulating drugs; not your normal problems for a 18 year old.

As my disease progressed I could not work the long hours of my demanding job. In October 2007, I was retired from the United States Air Force at the age of 19. I was heartbroken that I had to give up my military service, but I had no choice.

In spite of all my obstacles I have found the strength to pursue my dreams and goals. I exercise daily even though it is very painful I push myself to do it. I am currently attending college working on my undergraduate degree in Psychology. My main goal is to go to graduate school to become a clinical psychologist to help people with their problems.

I am young, full of life still and I refuse to give up. I know I would be a perfect activist for Multiple Sclerosis awareness. I just don't know how to get the word out. If you could help me in spreading the word about multiple sclerosis I would greatly appreciate it.

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