My name is Mariah and I'm 27 years old recently diagnosed with missed Spina Bifida Occulta. My diagnosis story starts years ago with my earliest symptoms starting when I was 19. At that time my pain started in my legs which was so excruciating I could barely walk and I remember my mom carrying me to the bathtub so I could try to relieve it with an Epsom salt bath. Even after I was still crying in pain and after visiting the ER, infectious disease specialist, and rheumatologist I was only left with a Fibromyalgia diagnosis. Fast forward years later after I had my first baby my symptoms were returning and slowly getting worse. I saw another rheumatologist who suspected Lupus but all tests came back negative besides having a high titer of antinuclear antibodies. I decided to try and ignore the pain as I felt I wasn't going to ever get an answer. That's until this last year when my symptoms became so severe I can barely walk again. My symptoms very day to day but it has caused me to have several falls due to weakness, heaviness, and burning in my legs. I've also experienced uncontrollable tremors and numbness. My primary doctor ordered an MRI of my Brain and Lumbar spine after the ER mentioned a possibility of MS. My brain came back normal but my my spine showed degeneration in my facet joints and lumbarization of S1. My doctor did an external exam and found evidence of Spina Bifida with a deep gluteal cleft. I'm being referred out to Indiana Spine Group for surgical options but also seeing JWN Neurology for possible Myalgic Encephalitis too. With all this going on and my new diagnosis it's caused changes in my life thats been hard to grasp. I was recently enrolled in college for nursing classes but will have to explore other majors because of my disability. I'm also a single mother blessed with a 4 year old son and a 3 year old daughter. Not being able to find work that accommodates my physical restrictions has left me unemployed and while I do currently receive SSI (which I'm very grateful for) it's not enough to pay for all living expenses. Right now I'm living with my mother who has been helping me tremendously! Still with income being really tight I have no way of affording my mobility aids that would make getting out and taking care of my children easier. The custom wheelchair with my personal measurements that I will need for long distance will cost me just over $4000. My rollator that won't break and last me at least 3 years cost $200. My insurance has been real picky about what they will and won't cover recently even denying recent prescriptions. And it takes on average a year to get a wheelchair approved by insurance. The faster I can get my mobility aids the quicker I can get back to not just living but thriving for my family! We may not understand everything that happens to us but I believe God has a plan for all of us! This is just a bump in the road for me but I still have a lot to give in this world and will not let this keep me from living my life!