From misdiagnosis to recovery: Worthington’s story of fighting MALS
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Hannah Worthington’s Story
Imagine suffering from constant sickness and pain, but no one knows what is wrong. Test after test, visit after visit, and even accusations of faking your condition because doctors cannot figure it out. That was the nightmare Hannah Worthington lived through.
Worthington is now a softball player for the Georgia Southern University Eagles, but before that she was at Chipola College in Marianna, Florida. It was there that she endured one of the most difficult stretches of her life, battling what would eventually be diagnosed as MALS.
What is MALS?
MALS stands for Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome, a rare condition that many doctors have never even heard of. It occurs when the median arcuate ligament, a band of tissue under the diaphragm, compresses the celiac artery and surrounding nerves. According to rarediseases.org, this can lead to chronic abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss, and other severe symptoms.
Listening to Hannah share her story on the Fastpitch Wire Softball Podcast felt almost like hearing a movie script. She described not being able to keep food or water down, being bedridden, and even having to leave college because of the sickness. The thing is, this was no movie. It was her reality.
A Long Road to Diagnosis
Her struggles began with the removal of her gallbladder, which doctors thought might solve her pain. Instead, the symptoms worsened. Chest and abdominal pain, the inability to eat or drink without getting sick, and rapid weight loss followed. In just two months, she lost 30 pounds.
Doctors searched for answers, suspecting ulcers and other conditions, but nothing helped. Her parents pushed for more research and refused to give up. Her mom researched online day after day, and that research from her and her aunt finally paid off. Finally, after more tests and bringing new information to doctors, Hannah was officially diagnosed with MALS.
This rare condition is often misunderstood, and many patients are misdiagnosed with eating disorders, psychiatric conditions, or functional abdominal pain. For Hannah, the only option left was surgery.
A Risky Operation
“They had to cut the ligament to allow blood flow and then they had to burn all the nerves in my chest and cut completely through my diaphragm and sew it back together,” said Worthington.
It was a high-risk surgery that came with a tough recovery. Hannah had to regain weight, rebuild her strength, and really learn how to be herself again, all while working toward a return to the softball field.
Finding Her Way Back
Through faith, determination, and persistence, she did just that. Worthington fought her way back to playing again and now represents the Georgia Southern Eagles. Her journey is proof that if you just keep the faith, and find a way to battle, you can make it through some of the worst things you can imagine.
Spreading Awareness
I wanted to share Hannah’s story to shed more light on MALS. If you or someone you know are experiencing symptoms like hers, do not hesitate to ask your doctors to look into this condition. Many physicians may not be aware of it, but awareness can make all the difference.
You can hear Worthington tell her full story on the Fastpitch Wire Softball Podcast, available on YouTube and all podcast listening platforms.
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