Just hours after a former model woke up with a dead arm, she was left paralysed from the chest down.
Sonia Vera, who is originally from Venezuela, was living in London in 2017 when she woke up with a strange sensation in her arm.
Fearing she may be suffering a heart attack, the 46-year-old raced to the hospital but was assured by doctors that it was just a bout of anxiety and she was told to go home.
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However, just five hours later, Sonia woke up from a nap and was paralysed.
The former TV personality returned to hospital where she underwent a battery of tests, including two spinal taps, before she was eventually diagnosed with transverse myelitis, which is a rare neurological condition that causes inflammation of the spinal cord.
Over the next six months she was given steroids to reduce the inflammation, as well as three IVIG transfusions and intense physiotherapy.
But despite the traumatic experience, she has never lost hope that she may be able to walk again.
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And after seeing the success stories from medical trials for an epidural stimulator in Kentucky, the United States, Sonia set up a Go Fund Me page to help her on the road to recovery.
Speaking about her harrowing ordeal, Sonia said she has gone through her ups and downs but is focused on being positive.
She said: "Physically it's been tough of course. I struggle with one whole side of my body that doesn't really respond on dry land, yet there are signs of messages coming and going when I am in a pool.
"I have neuro pain in my right arm that is constant and then there are all the challenges of everyday life, like getting around and reaching for things.
"Mentally, I'm ok. I've had my lows and then I just pop right back up. I do meditation in the morning to calm any anxiety and then I mostly focus on my physio and being positive. Having faith is important.
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"At first I was put on a lot of steroids to take the inflammation down, then I had three IVIG transfusions in the hospital. Since there is no actual cure for me, I don't have any regimen to manage my condition. I only take one pill for my Neuro pain in my arm.
"I have my good days and my bad days. But as I see it, I feel that there must be some lesson to be taken away from this experience and so I just try and live in the 'now' every day and take it one day at a time."
Transverse Myelitis is an attack of inflammation of the spinal cord. It is caused by the body's immune system becoming mis-programmed and activating immune cells to attack the healthy myelin covering the nerves in the spine.
It may occur on its own or with another illness and can develop alongside bacterial or viral infections.
Topics: Interesting, Health