Editor-in-Chief, Ali Guthy
Dear Friends,
2009 was a great year. Now I don’t mean to brag, but I got straight A’s on my report
card (junior year in high school…not too shabby), I became captain of my tennis team (co-captain, and for next season, but still) and, to top it all off, (I know this is going to sound cheesy like the bulk of my last letter, but stay with me on this) I discovered a new awareness, a different perspective of myself I had never noticed before.
The Symposium in November really opened my eyes to a community I was previously ignorant to associate myself with. The amount of love and support I felt from every individual at that conference was truly awe-inspiring and gave me an even better outlook for this whole thing we’ve all come to know as NMO. Strangers. People I had never met before had heard of me, wanted to meet me, or were somehow linked to me in this bizarre and funny chain of fate we are creating. We joined together to form one perfect, unified bond that was not once broken throughout our entire time together. For those of you who couldn’t attend, for whatever reason, good or bad, I strongly recommend attending in the future.
I am not a fan of science and dread going to Chemistry on a daily basis (no offense Mr. Kelleher), but the patient day wasn’t about the science. It was about connecting with people just like me, dealing with what I’m dealing with and even feeling what I’m feeling. No one else can relate to me the way they can.
I guess that was my highlight of 2009, believe it or not, because this “disease” has really been a, not exactly fun, but revealing experience. I’ve discovered how many people care about me and how profoundly I care for them. We are a small group, but a mighty one. We all create a collective unit, and together, we will become known as the little community that could, can, and will.
Yours Truly,
Ali Guthy