When Chip Galloway had to climb seven flights of stairs because an elevator was out of service, he noticed some weakness but didn’t take it seriously. Then he began falling and struggled to open the dishwasher and the door to his truck. Chip’s doctor sent him to a specialist, and while he was fortunate to be diagnosed within six months, the diagnosis was not good. He had inclusion body myositis (IBM), which is not curable.
At first he tried not to think about it much, and the disease progressed slowly, but he hit rock-bottom at Christmas several years later. “I didn’t want to go on. I had lost hope.” A man of faith, he knew he had to keep going, and after doing some homework he found The Myositis Association (TMA). “TMA gave me the hope I needed to deal with myositis.”
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“TMA’s staff is so wonderful. I was on a mission to find meaning in my disease, and they empowered me to do anything I wanted to do.” He joined a support group and discovered a mentor in the very first person he ever met with IBM. “The support and affinity groups are life changing. Suddenly you have a family who knows what you are going through.” He decided to participate in a 5K, despite his increasing weakness, to expand awareness about myositis. Then he threw out first pitches at baseball games to raise awareness and funds.
“Before I found TMA, I felt like my life was over, but TMA has helped me support others with this disease.” Bolstered by his faith, Chip pours himself into helping others and raising the profile of myositis. In doing so, he feels better. Chip’s disease is progressing, and he gets tired easily. “But if I’m going to be tired, I want to be tired doing work for TMA.”
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Your generous support of TMA will help us reach and inspire many more people with this rare disease. Thank you so much for your support.