Tennis legend Monica Seles has been officially identified as suffering from a severe health condition.
Monica Seles, the former world number one tennis player, has revealed that she has been living with a severe muscle weakness condition called Myasthenia Gravis (MG) for the past three years. The 51-year-old, who was born in former Yugoslavia, shared her experiences in an interview with the Associated Press.
Living with MG presents a range of challenges for Seles. She experiences muscle weakness and fatigue, particularly in her arms and legs, double or blurry vision, droopy eyelids, difficulty with facial expressions, speaking, swallowing, and chewing, and trouble walking. These symptoms, which she noticed as unusual changes given her athlete's body awareness, eventually led to her diagnosis.
The physical limitations caused by MG have interfered with Seles's daily activities and past routines. Simple tasks like blowing out her hair have become difficult, and traveling now requires more planning. Emotionally, Seles has felt isolated and defeated as many activities she once enjoyed have become inaccessible due to MG.
However, Seles emphasises the importance of adapting to a "new normal." She credits her family, friends, and communities like MG-United for providing resources and encouragement. MG-United is an organisation that supports those affected by the autoimmune neuromuscular disease.
Seles's career was interrupted in 1993 when she was the victim of a stabbing incident during a tournament in Hamburg. The perpetrator was a mentally disturbed man claiming to be a Steffi Graf fan. Despite this setback, Seles has remained resilient and continues to share her story to raise awareness about MG and inspire others facing similar challenges.
In summary, Monica Seles faces both physical symptoms of muscle weakness and emotional and lifestyle challenges in adapting to life with Myasthenia Gravis. This autoimmune neuromuscular disease has a complex impact on those affected, but Seles's story serves as a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of support from loved ones and communities.
- Monica Seles's personal battle with Myasthenia Gravis (MG), an autoimmune neuromuscular disease, has been further complicated by scientific and medical-conditions related challenges that accompany the illness.
- Seles's health-and-wellness journey includes managing a series of symptoms such as muscle weakness, fatigue, difficulty with facial expressions, speaking, swallowing, and chewing, which are often associated with autoimmune-disorders like MG.
- Despite experiencing setbacks in her sports career and feeling emotionally isolated due to the limitations imposed by MG, Seles remains focused on adapting to a "new normal" with the help of her family, friends, and organizations like MG-United, emphasizing the importance of support and resources in health-and-wellness and autoimmune-disorders education and advocacy.
