“I have spinal muscular atrophy type two,” Cory shares. “Because of my condition, I’ve had to learn to adapt to every type of normal situation, including eating.”
Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and can lead to respiratory complications and difficulty swallowing. Cory has learned to adjust in many ways to overcome the challenges she faces because of her diagnosis. One of those adjustments is her feeding tube.
“I got my first g-tube when I was nineteen years old,” Cory recalls. “I had lost a lot of weight and was too weak to eat. I spent three months growing weaker every day until I finally decided to try a feeding tube. I gained thirty pounds during the six months after my gastrostomy. I was able to go to the movies with friends again. I went back to school. I started dating again. My feeding tube literally changed my life.”
Cory kept her first g-tube for almost ten years. It helped her get her life back and kept her strong through two pregnancies. After her second daughter was born, Cory had her g-tube removed and spent about a year eating only by mouth. Then her health started to decline again.
“Before I had my second gastrostomy,” Cory says, “I had fallen into the same cycle of weakness, not eating, and more weakness. But this time I didn’t let it get so far. I chose to get the feeding tube the second time without hesitation because I already knew how it had saved my life before.”
Cory’s second g-tube not only improved her health once again but also put her mind at ease. “As my condition progresses,” Cory explains, “it’s awesome to have the reassurance of the g-tube. My nutrition is one less thing I have to worry about.”
Despite the obstacles that come with her diagnosis, Cory is living her life to the fullest with her husband and two daughters. This Feeding Tube Awareness Week, we’re celebrating feeding tubes for giving individuals like Cory the strength, energy, and peace of mind to live their lives the way they want to.