My name is Ailish'ya Mohoganie Wills.  I am ten years old.  I live in Stockton, California, with my mama, daddy, and little brother, Terrell, who's six (and a pain! LOL).

When you first see me, you'll notice I'm in a wheelchair.  That is because I can't walk.  I had a very bad illness that ate up my leg; it damaged it, and now it's badly scarred, and I can't put any weight on it.  I have to use a wheelchair, or else I would fall if I tried to walk.  It's a pain, but at least I'm now able to get around!

I had flesh eating disease.  I got it from when I pricked my leg on a rose bush.  It wasn't really nothing to get too hyped up about; however, a few days later, I woke up with a terrible fever, and my leg was killing me.  When I saw it, I screamed:  it was swollen up, and it was turning funky colors!  I knew something was terribly wrong; I called mama, and she took me immediately to the hospital.

I was immediately admitted.  I was then rushed to surgery.  The doctors were acting like something was seriously wrong; it terrified me.  When I finally woke up, I was surprised to find it was two weeks after!  They had me knocked out, so I wouldn't pull out the tubes and other stuff that was on/in my body.

The doctor told me I had a bad bacterial infection that ate my leg up.  He called it necrotizing fasciitis, or NF for short.  He said I was lucky I survived; most people who had it died.  He did say that I still had my leg, but it was badly scarred, and I'd probably never walk again because I  had so much damage to it.

The news made me cry; however, I was determined to overcome this thing.  I eventually had therapy to where I learned to get around and how to transfer myself from my chair to my bed, or chair, or toilet, or wherever else I needed to go.  It was very hard work, but I did it!

That was one year ago when all of this happened.  Now I'm happy to say I'm recovered; but whenever I get a cut or a bruise, I'm scared to death I'll get nec-fac again.  So far, that hasn't happened, but I have to be so careful!

My parents call me their miracle child.  I've had to speak at churches to tell my story, and I'm thinking of writing a book about what I went through.  My mama will help me with the parts I don't remember; it will be a collaborative effort (her words, not mine!).  I want other kids who have had necrotizing fasciitis to know that they're not alone, and that they can survive it. 

Well, I am going to go.  Time to go to bed; I have church tomorrow.  I will write in here again soon, with more of my story.  Until later, this is Ailish'ya M. Wills signing out of here!  Take care, and may God bless you mightily!

~Love, your new friend in Cali, Ailish'ya Mohoganie, aged 10.