Monica Pires was diagnosed with juvenile onset autoimmune myasthenia gravis as a fourteen-year-old.
In 1989, she went to Frankfurt, Germany, along with another MGer, to the annual meeting of the European Association of Muscular Dystrophy Associations as an observer, to help gather the know-how for the formation of the Portuguese Association of Myasthenia Gravis and Other Neuromuscular Diseases. She was also on the Board of the Portuguese Association as a Secretary of the Board.
In 1997, Monica joined MGmail, a mailinglist owned and managed by Stan Way. In 1998, she became the contact person referenced in the Welcome Mail of MGmail, to help answer any questions of newcomers or list members.
Between November 1999 and January 2000, she was a daytime moderator of the myasthenia gravis chatroom of Dave's MG and Family Community Center.
Today she's a member of several MG/ Neuromuscular Diseases online Clubs, Communities and an E-group, of the OcularMG mailinglist and of MGmail.
Monica has a degree in Modern Languages and Literatures - English and German Studies from the Universidade Nova, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences in Lisbon - Portugal, and a post-graduation in Special Education from the Universidade Lusofona also in Lisbon. She has taught English and German for several years and now works as a member of the Special Education team of a highschool in Lisbon.
Her goal at MGnet is to help generate the necessary means to make access to information and support possible to myasthenics all over the world.
MGnet