Then, Dr. Edward McNeil, whom she refers to as“an angel,” entered her life.

Lillian described what happened next. “He was a sharp young internist who would sit by my bedside for hours watching me and planning on what to do next to save my life, and that he did.”

“As I fought for life with every fiber in my body,” she continued,“ he would walk me through what all had happened and held my hand while I digested the information. Thyroid dead, severe adrenal gland failure, enlarged heart, every cell in my body had been hit and that meant mini-strokes that had did some brain damage.”

Lillian’s primary goal was to survive.

“I was on many medications to stay alive and was never going to be what I was before,” Lillian remarked.

“ Gone was the wonderful career,” she added. “Gone was a fine memory, gone were many friends, but I was and I am still alive.”

Lillian almost lost her life before being diagnosed with Addison 's disease.

Addison’s is a condition in which the adrenal glands (above the kidneys) do not function, or do not function properly.

Most people associate the adrenal glands with the “fight or flight” situations when the adrenaline that is secreted in times of stress. However, the adrenal glands do much more than that. The adrenal cortex is the outer layer of the glands. It produces the hormones, cortisol and aldosterone. These hormones have an effect on blood sugar and blood pressure. They also regulate water and salt levels in the body.

Addison’s disease destroys or damages this cortex. The major cause is an autoimmune response in which the body’s own system attacks itself. There is no cure, but it can be treated successfully.

TheNational Adrenal Diseases Foundation (http://www.medhelp.org/nadf/) states that even though Addison’s disease is considered a rare disease, ‘it is estimated that at least 10,000 individuals in the United States have this condition (this is probably an underestimation).’

However, Lillian was no stranger to adversity. Twenty years ago, she defeated uteral cancer. Then in 1979, she began her career as an art instructor and program director for her city’s recreation department. She worked her way up to CEO. She then started a local YMCA chapter and became CEO.

She had a fulfilling career, a loving husband, four grown children and was enjoying life again only to become ill with breast cancer in May of 1995. Lillian had to have surgery and was put on an adjunct drug therapy.

“That was when the hell of all hell started,” Lillian explained.

“I started to complain to my doctor about this pain in my head. Every time I would use the word ‘pain’ he would correct me and call it a headache. The doctor would say very little other than most people have not complained of a headache on this drug.

“This went on for three months and he finally sent me to a neurologist who said it was a‘cluster headache’. However he did send me for a MRI (MRI is magnetic resonance imaging. It is a way to look into the body, three dimensionally, without x-ray). The result was swelling of the meninges, the mass that surrounds your brain.”

Lillian thought she was finally getting somewhere, but her doctor wanted to wait a month and do another MRI test.

After five months, Lillian had showed no sign of improvement. She was then sent to a Cranial Base surgeon who told her to undergo another MRI in a month.

Lillian expanded, “I was staggering. I was a zombie, couldn’t sleep, developed a horrible pain in my back, had slurred speech, and incoherent. I was dropping weight at 20 pounds a week.

“I went back to my surgeon, who of course, once again, did not know what was wrong. I then went to another doctor and told him I was dying. He took my hand and said he would not let me die.
“ Within two days I was in the emergency room and they said my thyroid level was low.”

Lillian has been left with no thyroid or adrenal gland function and an enlarged heart.

She went on to mention, “I am now diabetic, have short term memory loss, can only drive a short distance, and fatigue, but the meds help me make it.”

Lillian will have to take numerous medications for the rest of her life. Her near death drama has also caused her to have Cushing’s Syndrome, a related hormonal condition that causes weight gain, a back hump, weakness, increased thirst and urination.

In Lillian’s opinion, she beleives Addison’s is not difficult to diagnose. She states, “I think it has more to do with uninformed doctors and the pressure of pushing patients through without truly listening ”

Despite all this, Lillian remains positive, “I have had so many wonderful people help me through the rough road,” she comments, “and it was time for me to give back.

“I believe in giving, and in doing so, receive much. I spend many hours a day researching for cancer, helping cancer people travel the journey. It has made me believe that I have a purpose in life. I think the emphasis on feeling we walk this path alone is so important, when in fact, we don’t. There are good people on the cyber-highway to help one through all of this.”

Lillian refers to the Internet and the MOL web site forums http://www.meds.com/forums/comsumer.html).