Tonya West has spent her life helping others.

Now, she could use some help in her fight against multiple sclerosis.

The 55-year-old native of Ada became a CLEET certified Peace Officer in January 2008 and started her career with the McIntosh County Sheriff ’’s Department.

“I began as a road deputy and later became a detective,” she said. “As time went on, I developed an interest in crimes against children, and domestic violence. I acquired additional training in the field of forensic interviewing through the ChildFirst Forensic Interviewing protocol and sat on the McIntosh County Multidisciplinary Task Force for children.

“I conducted the forensic interviews for child abuse cases within our county, also working with additional counties which had need of forensic interviewing per case.

“I later became the liaison for McIntosh County as we created our first Domestic Violence Task Force.”

She was forced to medically retire in 2015 due to a spinal injury, which required multiple back surgeries to relieve pain and pressure on the nerves to her legs.

“Being that I didn’t present all of the symptoms at one time, multiple sclerosis was never diagnosed. Multiple sclerosis is often misdiagnosed or even overlooked without specifically testing – a spinal tap or a brain and brain stem MRI.

“I would have a singular symptom appear, but it would dissipate and I brushed it off, negating that there was ever really a problem.”

She said RRMS, or relaxing remitting multiple sclerosis, works this way. Symptoms appear, later getting better or remitting and not much more thought about it.

In 2021 she began having severe vertigo, the left side of her face went numb and she had double vision.

“Those symptoms continued for around three weeks and the double vision got better so I figured I had an ear infection or something, throwing my balance off. I drove myself to the clinic and when I explained to the doctor what I had undergone over the last few weeks, the doctor suspected it was multiple sclerosis.

“I was devastated by the words I heard, but I was hopeful that when the MRI and spinal tap were done that they would be negative. We have a way of dismissing and minimizing symptoms in our body because we don’t want to face what they really might be.

“After the MRI results came back it was clear that it was multiple sclerosis as my brain and brain stem had several lesions that were causing the symptoms. The word multiple sclerosis means multiple scars. In short, it is an autoimmune disease to the central nervous system. Our immune system that is supposed to protect us mistakenly attacks our myelin, the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibers, which disrupts communication between the brain and the rest of the body,” she said.

This damage can cause a wide range of symptoms, including vision problems, muscle weakness, numbness, and cognitive difficulties.

“I began a disease modifying therapy immediately after being diagnosed,” Tonya said.

Over the last three years she has been on four disease-modifying therapies.

“There is no known medical cure for multiple sclerosis, but the DMT’s aim is to slow the disease progression. The first two DMT’s did not slow the progression, as my disease was an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis. I’ve taken two of the strongest DMT’s on the market and the disease has continued to progress. I am now immune compromised due to the high power drugs.”

She stopped walking without assistance a couple of years ago.

“I began using a cane at that time and within six months or so progressed to a walker. For about the last year, I’ve progressed to needing a wheelchair for most outings and on some days when symptoms are at their greatest.

“I just got out of the hospital after an active flareup. For the last week I’ve been using a motorized wheelchair,” she said. “It has nothing to do with muscle strength. The nerves in my legs don’t send signals to the brain to tell them to walk.

“I could exercise all my heart desires, but I can’t force my legs to work.”

She’s frustrated watching her situation worsen.

“It’s a slow burn. You can see what’s happening, and there’s nothing you can do.”

She said the tragic situation does have one blessing.

“Spiritually, getting diagnosed with MS, I finally knew what life was all about. It’s as if I had been in the wilderness and found my way to the light, strip away everything else. It’s funny, but had it not happened I may never have appreciated who I am.”

She has that awakening to be grateful for, and also an appreciation for her husband, Jared West, Chief Deputy with the Sheriff ’s Department.

“Thank God for my husband. He is my number one caregiver. Picks me up when I need to be picked up and carried.

“Sadly, this disease doesn’t only affect the person who has it, but also the person who takes care of you,” she said.

“I never dreamed of this coming up when I was up in helicopters and doing things. You take life for granted till one day, it’s not there. You never think about maybe this will be the last time you are going to walk unassisted.”

As dire as her life is, she won’t give up.

“The only hope that I have found in slowing progression is HSCT. Basically this is a bone marrow transplant and is done quite often in cancer patients. It is not yet an approved treatment for multiple sclerosis but is in the first stage of clinical trials at present.”

She says HSCT, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, is a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) that aims to “reset” the immune system.

“It involves destroying the existing immune system with chemotherapy and then rebuilding it using the patient’s own stem cells. This process can help reduce or eliminate relapses, halt disease progression, and potentially improve quality of life for some individuals with MS.

To get treatment she will have to leave Oklahoma.

To assist her, her son Michael Pendley has set up a GoFundMe account with a goal of raising $20,000.

GoFundMe : MS Took Her Strength — Let’s Help Tonya Get It Back GoFundMe Account for Tonya West, created by son Michael Pendley “MS Took Her Strength – Let’s Help Tonya Get It Back” HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) Goal: $20,000