Promote Your Thing: MS Awareness

Hey Folks!

So as some of you know, here at Vapor Villa, we’ve recently kicked off our first campaign of “Promote Your Thing.”  It’s our chance to help our customers who’ve helped us by using our platform to shed light on something special in someone’s life.  First up is Melissa Stevens.  Melissa is customer at our Eldersburg, MD location and was kind enough to share her story with us.  Here’s what she had to say.

Melissa's Story

“Hello! My name is Melissa Stevens. I'm a 26-year-old Mother of 2 (Payton 4yo, Carter 7m). September of 2006 I was in a bad auto accident. I was the third car back at a green light in a 1999 Honda Prelude. An F150 pick up truck decided he was going to run a red light because he was "Having a bad day.”  I was immediately knocked unconscious and drove up the curb into a tree. My little sister was also in the car with me, but walked away with a scratch. I was rushed to the hospital, and many thought I wasn't going to live. Preparing for the worst but hoping for the best. I was given many MRI and CT scans. I had a TBI (traumatic brain injury) with lots of bleeding in my brain. But I beat the odds and survived. The next few months weren't easy and I don't remember a lot that happened. My life was just a blur. But I also think it was a blessing in disguise.

 As I got older I had constant headaches and numbness. So in 2011, I went to my Neurologist who made me get a few more MRI scans. The results showed MS (Multiple Sclerosis). So I went home and began to google. MS is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord. The immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and spinal cord. Eventually, the disease can cause the nerves themselves to deteriorate or become permanently damaged.

Like many others when you see me you have no idea anything is wrong. Last year, while 9 months pregnant, I took part in my first MS walk. My team, ‘Hear Me Roar’ made 2nd place raising $2000, and I made 5th place in top participants raising $1000. I signed up a month before the walk and I wasn't expecting to raise nearly that much. This year I am starting earlier in hopes to raise even more! In hopes to raise more awareness and more testing opportunities. In hopes to make MS stand for Mystery Solved. I believe with your help and others I have a better chance in making all that possible! Thank you for your time! And ill see you soon when I run out of space rocks ;-).”

Let's Help!

What a story!  Every little bit counts in fights like these so Vapor Villa is happy to kick off 2016 by helping Melissa and her team raise awareness to MS.  After all you just never know when someone close to you could be affected by MS.  We’ve happily donated to get things rolling and we respectfully ask that anyone who can donate to the cause as well to please do so!  Also, please feel free to share this story in hopes of bringing further awareness.

All donations to Melissa’s team can be made here: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=13827592&fr_id=27276&pg=personal

Thanks,

Vapor Villa