TYLER, Texas — A Tyler woman woke up one day and couldn't walk. Test after test, doctors eventually realized she had a rare, chronic illness.
Makayla Johnson, 20, took to social media -- going viral on TikTok as millions watched her story - her struggle - and her fight to press on.
Johnson said social media has always played a huge role in her life.
"When I was 12 years old, or around the age, I would make YouTube videos and only show it to my family members," she said.
As she aged, social media platforms evolved, and Johnson found herself on TikTok.
"I really started making consistent content after I got pregnant," she said. "I had my son, Kai, when I was 19."
Since then, her TikTok became a place for mothers to connect. Her social media, however, wasn't typically a place for her to share her struggles.
"My life online seems so like great and kind of glamorized, I show all the great parts about it," Johnson said.
Johnson said she started to struggle with her mental health and taking a break from the online world.
"All of a sudden, I started losing interest in the things that I loved," she said. "I was really burnt out, not just with motherhood, but just life in general."
Eventually, her life stressors manifested into her physical wellbeing. Johnson said her depression kept coming back and she admitted herself into a psychiatric hospital in Tyler to get the help she needed.
"I was diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and postpartum (depression)," she said.
Her mental health diagnoses eventually lead to her chronic illness diagnosis.
"It's kind of crazy how everything is kind of intertwined," Johnson said. "If I wasn't depressed, I probably wouldn't have gotten a UTI, I probably wouldn't have gotten a kidney infection, and I probably wouldn't have found out about having transverse myelitis."
Transverse myelitis is a rare, chronic illness that creates inflammation of the spinal cord making it difficult and painful to walk.
"Only about one to eight people per million get it," Johnson said.
Johnson said doctors told her the reason is unknown for 60 percent of those diagnosed.
Unsure what to do, Johnson took to TikTok to share her story. Her video now has over 3 million views.
" I wanted to give the followers I did have an update on my life," she said.
She said she shared her story to relate to others battling a chronic illness.
"Maybe if there's someone else out there that was struggling with chronic illness, I could connect them," Johnson said. "It's amazing. I've had a couple people say like I have transverse myelitis because it really never goes away, but you can get better."
She said other TikTokers we're giving her advice.
"They said after like six years, I'll be up and walking and like normal," she said.
She hopes it doesn't take her that long.
"We never know, but I'm trying my best every day," she said.
She gained a little community to cheer her on.
"It's just love and support and people asking how they can help and people liking and sharing to boost it so more people can see it. and like giving me advice and just, you know, wishing you luck," she said.
She said she's also grateful for her inner circle as well.
"My mom is like my best friend and Walker is such a great partner and such a great dad," she said. "Everyone around me was just doing everything they could to support me."
Due to her medical bills, having to put her son in daycare while she works to get better, and not having a source of income because her boyfriend has had to take off of work to take care of her, Johnson has set up a GoFundMe.