Balancing Grit and Grace - Ahna Crum

Ahna was diagnosed with aggressive relapsing-remitting MS at the age of 16. As an avascular necrosis combatant, HSCT veteran, and partially bionic woman, Ahna has fought for functionality through conventional and holistic therapies. The experience of managing symptoms broadened into a passion of researching nutritional sciences, which led to a career as a Registered Dietitian and master’s degree in human nutrition and functional medicine. She combines her love of food and writing to restore health, hope, and highlight the ups and downs of life with MS. Ahna is a sunshine state native and relies on her faith in God, fur babies, music, and art to stay sane.

Featured Post
Columns

How my perspective on MS awareness has shifted since my diagnosis

Until my relapse last summer, multiple sclerosis (MS) hadn’t really affected my daily life in nine years, so the recent MS Awareness Month made me pause. Living with the disease sometimes at the forefront and sometimes in the background has shown me how much the meaning of “awareness”…

Ahna Crum

Columns

Like laundry, living with MS requires ongoing maintenance

There’s a bin of laundry in my car. It’s been there for days, but I keep putting off carrying it upstairs. My dryer is broken. It’s not a crisis, but it’s certainly inconvenient. It means I have to make a weekly trip to do laundry instead of running a load…

Columns

I don’t have to be an Olympic medalist to achieve remarkable things

Growing up, athleticism was part of my identity. To a degree, I measured myself by what I was physically capable of doing. I was constantly driven to test my limits, always aiming for higher, stronger, and more daring. I’m still in awe at what the human body is capable of.

Columns

I’m grateful for the days when MS is simply background noise

When I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) at 16, it was loud. My symptoms were significant; the fatigue ended my athletic drive, the searing nerve pain left me grinding my teeth constantly, and I experienced a period of being legally blind. MS didn’t politely…

Columns

A relapse showed me that trying to ‘prove’ my MS doesn’t work

This year has been a lot for me to deal with. It’s held more grief, trauma, and growing pains for me than any year before it. And it all started with a relapse of my relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) that came after nearly nine years of remission following my…


Explore more columns