Betty’s path to a diagnosis was a “nightmare” of being dismissed by emergency room staff who told her the symptoms were in her head. It took a life-threatening respiratory crisis for her to finally receive the correct diagnosis and her first IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin) infusion. For years, she carried a “drug bag” of pills that caused more side effects than relief, until she successfully advocated to stop the oral medications and rely solely on IVIG maintenance. This decision was a turning point; by 2017, Betty didn’t just return to the classroom—she returned to a life filled with travel, dancing, and a renewed sense of faith.
Today, Betty is a published author and a mentor who embraces her “invisible disability.” She is particularly passionate about breaking the silence and myths surrounding rare diseases in African and Nigerian communities. While she still faces the annual stress of Prior Authorizations and the shadow of Step Therapy, Betty refuses to be defined by her illness. She views her MG as a “living partner” that has taught her to live more slowly and love more deeply, proving that life after a diagnosis is not just possible, but beautiful.