A.S. Face 1440: Lynn Maxwell

A.S. Face 1440: Lynn Maxwell

I am the mother of four wonderful children who are all grown up now and the grandmother of two wonderful grandkids.  I am single (divorced).  I have to work two jobs to make ends meet.  I teach kindergarten in the Lewisville ISD and I review and process insurance inspections.  Kindergarten is probably not the best job to have considering my health issues but I love it so much I am trying to keep with it.

 I was finally diagnosed with AS in 2005.  I had spent about 14 years trying for a diagnosis.  It was a fleeting disease up until about 2002.  I would have a period of pain then it would go into remission sometimes for years.  In 2001, after 9/11, a nasty divorce and a daughter in a near fatal car accident AS reared it’s ugly head and has been here to stay ever since.  I have very little fusion, a little in the neck beginning to occur.  Along with A.S.  I have rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, degenerative disc disease, costrochondritis, eye pain, osteoarthritis, nerve damage in my hands.  I tried many of the biologics but after many serious infections I can no longer take those.  I am taking methotrexate now but it only serves to dull the pain a little.  Fatigue is my biggest enemy.  Some days I only have enough energy for a few hours then brain fog sets in.

On the positive side I love spending time with my kids and grandkids.  My oldest daughter is working her way up through management at Fleet Trucking services.  My middle daughter is an attorney working in wills/probate.  My son is working his way up through a company that installs electronics in high end businesses and homes like the American Airlines Center, Mavericks basketball players homes, along with many of the upper echelon of folks here in the Dallas area.  My youngest daughter is finishing a degree in Psychology this May.  She works in the music department at UNT.  I have a 9 year old granddaughter that is the love of my life along with a 4 year old grandson that can do no wrong.  Our rule is what happens at Nanny’s house stays at Nanny’s house.  I love to cook, sew, read, work Sudoku puzzles and go to church.