BOISE — Yvonne Juarez says she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis four years ago and has a severe chronic pain disorder.
"I was just floored and I stayed in bed for two years waiting and trying all the medications, trying all the programs, trying do anything just to not cry all the time."
She says she was prescribed opioids for the pain. After a long process she was able to get off opioids from lowering the medication slowly and getting on a different non-opiod medication.
She says that along with her service dog Tesla and her husband has helped her quality of life.
"I'm not back to where I was to before I got sick, but I am you know, I have a disease and it's not going to go away, but the quality of life is I look forward to getting up. I like my life, I like my friends. I like to go meet new people and it's restored my joy and my hope."
Juarez has been trying new things like painting and auditioning for a first of it's kind independent film called "Making sense." It features people in lead and supporting roles who have disabilities. She and her husband landed roles in the film, but she says she was inspired by others.
"Everybody was so brave and people in wheelchairs got up and did it. People who couldn't talk would do it and I'm just sitting there thinking well I can't do anything because I can't move. And I'm like yes, I can. They can do it, I can do it too. I was so inspired."
