New City teacher: 'I have a life again'

Elyse Hausner, a teacher from New City has suffered with a condition called neurogenic bladder since childhood.

“My bladder spasms and misfires. It has a mind of its own,” says Elyse. “This is a not a disease that people can see. But it affects your quality of life in a way that people don’t realize. When you have neurogenic bladder, in your mind, there’s always a risk of public humiliation. There are times when you feel like you don’t want to leave your house.”

Elyse has had numerous sacral implant surgeries over the past several years to control her neurogenic bladder. But those implants are no longer effective. Her physician in New York referred her to Kenneth Peters, M.D., director at Beaumont's Women's Urology Center in Royal Oak, Mich. because she believed that his work with the pudendal implant might be the answer to once again getting her bladder under control.

“My goal is to spend a day like anyone else does.  Maybe go on a hike, then sit through a movie and dinner, or spend a day on the beach,” she says. 

"Working full time, as a kindergarten teacher, despite, or in spite of my condition, has been amongst my greatest sources of joy, and what gets me out of bed on really hard days. I am hoping that this new surgery enables me to continue doing my job for quite a while longer."

Watch Elyse's story here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLFso7j6dd8