𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 “𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘕𝘔” 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘕𝘔 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.
Noelle Nuñez and her son, Ezmile, are rewriting the narrative of Nemaline Myopathy (NM). Noelle’s journey began invisibly, a condition that went undiagnosed for years, silently shaping her life. “I didn’t get the medical help I needed as a child & went my whole life undiagnosed until 2022,” she shares. Then, with the birth of her children, the effects of NM became more pronounced.
Undiagnosed No More: Facing Nemaline Myopathy Together
The diagnosis, for both Noelle (32) and Ezmile (6), brought its share of worries. “Quality of life,” Noelle answers frankly when asked about her initial concern. But amidst the fear, a fierce determination emerged. “I would have to say. We are never limited, our body might but our minds are strong. We can adapt & we will overcome,” she declares.
Adapting to a New Reality: Living with NM
Their story is one of resilience and adaptation. Noelle describes how NM affects her daily life. “I’m a mom of 3 & NM affects me in so many ways. All of my body is affected but mostly in my upper body. Especially my hands & arms. We use our upper body for so much,” she explains. Assistive devices have become essential – braces, an AFO for foot drop, and a text-to-talk app to conserve her energy.
Ezmile faces his own challenges. “Ezmile wears AFOs due to foot drop, gets easily fatigued with light activity,” Noelle says. Physical and occupational therapies are part of his routine, along with a bipap machine to assist his breathing at night.
Finding Strength in Each Other: A Mother-Son Bond
Their bond finds strength in shared experiences. “The most rewarding part about this journey is being able to show my son strength & being a voice for him because I didn’t have that as a kid,” Noelle reflects. Ezmile’s bravery inspires her. “He is so strong & brave,” she says. “He wears his mask for his breathing machine every night & still smiles. His resilience inspires me!”
Joy in the Everyday: Making the Most of Life
Finding joy in simple things is a cornerstone of their approach. “We both love making bracelets for loved ones,” Noelle shares. For Noelle, crocheting is a favorite activity when she has the energy. Ezmile finds freedom on his adaptive bike, a future adventure Noelle looks forward to sharing with him.
The challenges are real, but Noelle and Ezmile don’t give up. “We just adapt & take deep breaths. Always remember it’s okay & give ourselves grace,” Noelle says. Their story is a testament to the power of the human spirit.
Breathing Hope: Looking Towards the Future
They fervently hope for a cure in the future, a prospect that would be life-altering. “It would change everything for my family & so many others!” Noelle exclaims.
Noelle’s journey doesn’t end with her and Ezmile. “We are currently in the process of getting my other 2 kids tested as well,” she reveals. Theirs is a story of a mother’s unwavering love, a son’s strength, and a family facing the future together, one hopeful breath at a time.
This is a beautiful story and brings light to this disease. Inspiring and helping others to feel encouraged even in their adversity.
Very proud of this strong, loving and caring wife and young mother.
God bless yours and Ezmile’s journey.
Much love,
Auntie Kat