Today I rise in solidarity with a wonderful and determined south Florida woman, Millie Munoz. Millie Munoz has dystonia, a little-known movement disorder that causes a person's muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily. The trademark of this disorder is repetitive, patterned, and uncontrollable movements. Since childhood, Millie went from doctor to doctor and was told there was no real problem. Finally in the summer of 2006, she was diagnosed with generalized dystonia. Shortly thereafter, Millie went from climbing the Great Pyramid to being in a wheelchair and bed bound. Luckily, in 2008, she had deep brain stimulation surgery which provided some relief. Today, Millie has a feeding tube and braces on her legs, and she is as resilient and as determined as ever. Together, we must raise awareness of this disorder and support the research that can find a cure to this silent internal storm.
Editor's note · Context
The speaker addresses the challenges faced by Millie Munoz, a woman with dystonia, and calls for awareness and research support.
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