April 28 was the scariest day of Jayme Miller's life. The White Center resident suddenly realized she was paralyzed from her waist down and did not know why. She called 911 and medics transported her to Swedish Hospital First Hill. Three months later, after transferring for rehab to Providence Mount St. Vincent and Swedish Cherry Hill she was back in her second-floor apartment, sitting in a wheel chair with some feeling, mostly tingling sensations, returning to her feet and legs. When energetic she uses a walker.

Miller, 33, has transverse myelitis. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, "Transverse myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by inflammation across both sides of one level, or segment, of the spinal cord. The term myelitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord; transverse simply describes the position of the inflammation, that is, across the width of the spinal cord. Attacks of inflammation can damage or destroy myelin, the fatty insulating substance that covers nerve cell fibers. This damage causes nervous system scars that interrupt communications between the nerves in the spinal cord and the rest of the body."

The disease is rare and seems to strike randomly. Other than physical rehabilitation there is no cure, and while some recover fully within two years, not all who are stricken fully recover. But Miller stays positive and cheerful, and said her doctors tell her she is in the category of those who recover as she began to feel tingling in her toes within days, a cause for optimism, according to the NIH information.

"Doctors are saying it started in a little spot on my lower spinal cord, the (thoracic) T-5 but it affects me from my breast right down to my toes, every function," said Miller. "I could hardly cough at one point, it was so painful. I don't have complete feeling in my legs every day but I have surprised every single doctor and rehab person.

"They said that some who become paralyzed from the waste down could take years to even move your legs, and I can walk short distances with walker, and a little further every day. I want people to understand that this is something you never hear about. It comes out of nowhere, but they are doing more studies.

"My age, spirit, is what I have going for me," she said with a wide smile, and added that while she was not extremely religious, her stay at Providence was a spiritual journey.

"In a Catholic facility you had God all over you," she said, referring to Providence. "I prayed every night and avoided asking, 'Why me?' In a retirement facility you see many people who are 'going toward that light,' while I wanted to go out, toward the vitamin D sunlight. It does something to your head."

Also going for Miller is her fiance Robert Turner and his son, Brenden, 7 who they have both raised since birth. They all live together with two cats and a dog. She said Rob has been with her every day but three since April 28, and that Brenden also strengthens her will, and muscles.

"When this first happened, it scared the s*** out of me," Turner vividly recalled. "I didn't know if she was going to ever be able to take care of herself again, take care of us, walk again, or even come home."

He said the adjustment has been very hard, but that he shares her optimism and does everything he can for her.
He said that when she was hospitalized his routine involved working at Seattle Office Furniture, coming home to make Brenden dinner, then visiting Jayme.

"I had to juggle life," he said, as he opened the day's mail, which included another round of medical bills. They said the first 10 days at Swedish cost $200,000 and was just the beginning, with no end in sight. She has some health insurance. She has also managed to keep her job of seven years, now part time at home, with Alki Tours on Fauntleroy Way.

"I have the coolest bosses, Claire Nolan the owner, and Doug Prior the director of operations, the best bosses you can have in the world," Miller said. "They have been extremely supportive through this."

So have her friends who visit regularly, including Helen Johnson, Brandy Phelps, and Sydni Smith, a West Seattle resident who said she immediately felt she shared a kindred spirit with Miller.

"I have multiple sclerosis, a disease that, like hers, attacks the myelin sheath and affects the nervous system functions," said Smith, who walks with the aid of a cane. They just recently met. Added Smith, "Now we can take care of each other."

Sydni, Helen and friends are holding a fundraiser for Jayme Miller called "WALK ON JAYME!!" AUG. 21 at the Rocksport Bar and Grill. Silent Auction starts at 7:30 p.m. & DJ Tony B at 9:30 p.m. For more information, contact Sydni Smith at heysyd@gmail.com