2017 Dragon Magazine Winter

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“In my case, the diagnosis was not made early on as
it should have been, as doctors were and still are not
truly aware of the signs of CMT. One doctor told my
mom that she would make me neurotic if she kept
dragging me around to be examined, as we had visited
some really great medical institutions seeking an
answer,” she said.
CMT has impacted Fisher’s life in multiple ways. She
had to sell her home and move in with her parents,
and now uses AFOs (ankle foot orthosis), a walker
and wheelchair to get around. “I’m very fortunate
that my parents were willing/able to have me move
back in with them, as I’ve had multiple surgeries as a
result of complications from new injuries,” she said.
“Due to my mobility restrictions my dad drives me
to work every day and my mom is my ‘everything’ at
home, as the fatigue from CMT has me benched at
night and some weekends,” she said. “I hope since
I just had my sixteenth surgery – an ankle fusion –
that I will be able to build up strength and put a plan
together to move once again towards my independence.”
Despite her medical challenges, Fisher finds a way to
help others. Professionally, she’s worked for Vantage
Mobility International (VMI), a state-of-the-art mobility
van conversion facility in Arizona since 2005.
“Originally I started as an Accounts Payable lead
and worked my way to manager. However, with the
increased symptoms of my CMT, I took a step back,”
she said. “I am very fortunate to work for a company
that is supportive of me and all the changes that
CMT brings to my journey.”
Fisher also volunteers with the CMT and Muscular
Dystrophy associations.
“I try to be advocate for those with
CMT and share knowledge, connect
others with medical and mobility
information, and provide support.
Additionally I try to raise funds to
help find a cure, as there are clinical
trials happening throughout the United
States right now, and work to bring
about awareness of this little known,
rare disease through various media
platforms,” Fisher added.
She was recently selected as the Co-Leader of the
Arizona CMTA branch, and will serve in that role for
a minimum of two years. Her responsibilities include
organizing branch meetings, attending conferences,
holding at least one fundraiser a year, and helping
spread the word about CMT in the greater community.
Fisher believes her desire to give back stems from
watching MDA telethons on television and observing
her mom volunteer at church, at the Salvation Army
and at local hospitals. “These experiences somehow
imprinted on me to do more and give back
somehow/some way to others,” she said. “I think the
confluence of life experiences has set me up perfectly
for the continuation of that service platform which I
continue to have in my life’s journey.”
Looking back, Fisher says she missed out on playing
sports in high school - and wishes she had pushed
more strongly for answers. “With the right adaptive
equipment I could have done anything, and I want to
make sure to share that with the youth I meet today,”
she said.
Winter Magazine 2017 // 43