A Grade 9 and 10 Math teacher Annie Cherian, who lives in Sharjah, was shocked when on April 1 this year her physical abilities unexpectedly fell and she was no longer able to do some of her usual activities. Annie, a student in a Middle Eastern school, was struggling to climb the stairs of the school bus when she was taken to Aster Hospital Sharjah. There, she was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), a rare autoimmune disease that results in the loss of physical strength.
Initial Concerns and Diagnosis
Although the progressive difficulties she faced, such as the inability to comb her hair, were unbearable, the recovery of Annie, who began under the guidance of the Specialist Neurologist Dr. Rajesh Chaudhary, was remarkable. In a matter of less than a month of her diagnosis, Annie, did not only defy the odds but also came back to her favorite occupation, teaching her adored students.
Fast Treatment and the Spectacular Recovery
At the beginning, Annie associated her symptoms with diabetes and her sickness got worse and worse until she finally consulted a doctor. Dr. Rajesh, being a newcomer in the UAE, was of the opinion that Annie had CIDP as he was the one who observed the nature of her symptoms and started the treatment without any delay. Annie’s feeling of relief when she finally got an answer to her medical problem was incredible because now she knew what to do to treat her illness.
Defying Expectations
Getting Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment, Annie was very surprised by the speed of her recovery, and her doctors even thought that she would not walk again. Her recovery, which most people would take years to get, happened in five days, and Dr. Rajesh called it a miracle.
Returning to Normalcy
Today Annie is in school again, giving lessons with passion and appreciation for the second chance at life that she has been given. Her path is the proof of the strength of the resilience, medical knowledge, and the will to keep going even when things are challenging. Through the whole period of her life, Annie likes to be thankful for every day. She always focuses on her family and the teaching duties, which have helped her in her amazing recovery.
