March 25, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: You Know Your Health Better Than Anyone Photo courtesy of Colin Hirst Day 25 of 31 This is Colin Hirst’s story: Hello, I’m Colin and I have relapsing-remitting MS. Simply put, MS is an auto-immune disease that makes your body’s own cells break down the myelin around your nerves because it believes they are…
March 24, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: How I Live Drug-free with MS Photo courtesy of Matthew Embry Day 24 of 31 This is Matthew Embry’s story: Hi! My name is Mathew Embry, and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995. More than 25 years later, I am living symptom-free and making the best of…
March 23, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: An Unexpected Discovery Photo courtesy of Dawn Morgan Day 23 of 31 This is Dawn Morgan’s story: Hi! I’m Dawn Morgan. I have been living with relapsing-remitting MS since 2000, when I was 25. It was a complete shock. At the time, I was just beginning my professional career as…
March 22, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Taking Care of My Mental Health Photo courtesy of Caroline Gellatly Day 22 of 31 This is Marissa Green’s story: I am Marissa, a fundraiser, drama therapist, and mental health practitioner who loves the outdoors, cooking, music, and any excuse for a party. My original diagnosis, Balo’s concentric sclerosis, happened in…
March 21, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Laughing My Way Through MS Photo courtesy of Rebecca Anton Day 21 of 31 This is Rosani Christy’s story: My name is Rosani Christy, and I have been living with MS for over 20 years. I have always been a class clown. Making those around me laugh gave me a high, and…
March 20, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: My Tale of Determination Photos courtesy of Esme Robinson Day 20 of 31 This is Bron Webster’s story: Multiple sclerosis is unpredictable and volatile. I got my diagnosis in 1996. I adapted. I gave up my 20-year financial services career in 2008 to focus on my daughter. I retrained…
March 19, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: I Believe Anything Is Possible Photo courtesy of Conor Devine Day 19 of 31 This is Conor Devine’s story: I have been living with MS now for more than 15 years, which I would summarize as follows: 2006–2011. The first five years were horrendous. I gave up, felt awful most…
March 18, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Creating a Support Group for Young People Photo courtesy of Amy Thompson Day 18 of 31 This is Amy Thompson’s story: In April 2018, just after my 21st birthday, I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS. My whole world was turned upside down and I couldn’t find anyone I could relate to. That…
March 17, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Healthy Food and Fitness Saved My Life Photo courtesy of Jess Faulds Day 17 of 31 This is Jess Faulds’ story: My name is Jess, and I am a 28-year-old woman from Alberta, Canada. Ask anyone who knows me and the two things in life that I am most passionate about are food and…
March 16, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Talking About Sex, Intimacy, and MS Photos courtesy of Daana Townsend Day 16 of 31 This is Daana Townsend’s story: My name is Daana Townsend, and I was diagnosed with RRMS in March 2004. I was 23. My mother and aunt also have MS. My treatment journey started with Avonex…
March 15, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: I’m So Proud of My Family Member with MS Day 15 of 31 This is Angela Griffin’s story: I was with my daughter-in-law when she was first diagnosed with MS. I watched the doctors perform a lumbar puncture. As soon as I saw their faces, I knew what they would be telling her. Those precious few…
March 14, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Benefits Come From Simple Lifestyle Choices Day 14 of 31 This is Dr. Conor Kerley’s story: My name is Conor Kerley. When I was first diagnosed with MS at age 15, my first question was: will I still be able to play sports? I was diagnosed after three major relapses in eight months…
March 13, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: From Loss of Identity to New Life Purpose Day 13 of 31 This is Susan Carey’s story: My name is Susan Carey, and I was diagnosed with MS in 2004 at age 14. As you can imagine, it came as a surprise to me and others. Having to go through puberty with a chronic illness…
March 12, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: How to Make Exercises More Effective Day 12 of 31 Dr. Gretchen Hawley is a physical therapist who specializes in treating people with MS. These are her words: There are five principles that, if integrated into your routine, will provide a bigger bang for your buck when it comes to strengthening and improving your mobility.
March 11, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Dream, Believe, Achieve is My Motto Day 11 of 31 This is Shane Stanley’s story: My name is Shane and I am 29, living with MS since 2011. In the beginning, I experienced mild symptoms until they progressed in 2018. From that time, I have realized that MS is a gift. It has taught me…
March 10, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Dreams Can Come True Day 10 of 31 This is Trishna Bharadia’s story: I’m Trishna Bharadia, I live in Buckinghamshire in the U.K., and I have MS. I was diagnosed in 2008, age 28, after several years of vague symptoms, like feeling pins and needles, losing the strength in my hands, losing the…
March 9, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: MS Will Not Stop Me Running Marathons Cheryl Hile and her husband, Brian. Photo courtesy of Michael Moberly Day 9 of 31 This is Cheryl Hile’s story: My husband jokes he knew I was a real runner when I asked him at a 10K, “Is the course accurate?” I was running fast and having…
March 8, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Taking the ‘DIS’ Out of Disability Photo courtesy of Heather Plummer-Goodrich Day 8 of 31 This is Heather Plummer-Goodrich’s story: Hello, my name is Heather. I am a nana of six beautiful grandchildren, a wife, and an ultra marathon runner. My mantra is: Never give up. Make adjustments, not excuses. Stay positive. When…
March 7, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Being Kind to Yourself Photo courtesy of Dan Clarke Day 7 of 31 This is Heather Russell-Kay’s story: Hi! My name is Heather and I am an actor, teacher, blogger, and support volunteer. I was diagnosed with MS just over six years ago, and for me, it…
March 6, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Learning to Adapt Photo courtesy of Sandra Costello Day 6 of 31 This is Dee DiFatta’s story: Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis the day before my 22nd birthday was not something I expected or anticipated, but it has truly been a blessing. Navigating MS has taught me to slow down…
March 5, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Why You Should Get to Know NMO Photo courtesy of Lelainia Lloyd Day 5 of 31 Lelainia Lloyd is a patient advocate in Canada. These are her words: March is Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) awareness month. NMO is a rare disease that is often mistaken for MS. Many NMO patients are…
March 4, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: Finding a Way Back to Me Photo courtesy of Anita Alberto Photography. Day 4 of 31 This is Jen DeTracey’s story: It’s been over 10 years since I was diagnosed with MS. Ironically, on the anniversary, I didn’t think about it. I realized a few days later…
March 3, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: ‘Living Well with MS’ Podcast Photo courtesy of Svetlana Didorenko Day 3 of 31 This is Alex Twersky’s story: My name is Alex Twersky, and I have worked with Overcoming MS for more than seven years, applying my marketing and communications experience to advancing our vision.
March 2, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: MS Is a Label Photos courtesy of Sophie Brodie Day 2 of 31 This is Sophie Brodie’s story: MS is a label. Sometimes that label means something, but a lot of time it doesn’t. Almost two years ago — when I had lost some vision, some sensation, some balance, some mobility — a…
March 1, 2021 by BioNews Staff 31 Days of MS: MS and Pole-dancing Photos courtesy of Hayley Crowther Day 1 of 31 This is Hayley Crowther’s story: When I look back at the year I got sick, I’d just celebrated my 30th birthday. I was living with my husband and 7-year-old son, had a job I loved and, just four weeks prior…
April 27, 2020 News by BioNews Staff Publisher’s Note: Industry Leaders Seek to Advance Innovative Resources for Rare, Orphan Disease Communities Amid COVID-19 Outbreak FFF Enterprises and BioNews Services, publisher of this website, announced today that both rare and orphan disease advocates are joining forces to provide patients with resources to help them connect as a community and continue to manage their health during this time when many are finding themselves alone.
June 12, 2019 News by BioNews Staff Muralist Lydia Emily Uses Art to Publicize Hardships of Life with MS Perched atop a lift at the intersection of Main and Third streets in downtown Los Angeles, artist Lydia Emily cheerfully answered questions from a reporter 2,500 miles away via cellphone while working on a mural three stories high. Periodically, she interrupted the interview to banter with co-workers, and gawking passersby.
March 22, 2019 News by BioNews Staff Caregivers of MS Patients Should Not Neglect Own Needs, Expert Says in MSAA Webinar People who take care of their own needs while caring for a loved one with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to be successful, and enjoy a mutually rewarding relationship. And the best way to ensure that partners’ needs are met is for them to communicate openly and often.
March 19, 2019 News by BioNews Staff Sex and Intimacy Is Focus of MSAA Webinar Sex and intimacy are good for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), just as they are for anyone without the disease. And while fear of talking with a partner about possible sexual challenges created by MS is perfectly normal, there is help available to deal with potential problems. That’s according…
March 7, 2019 News by BioNews Staff UK Team to Test Robot-assisted Exercise to Improve Balance in MS Patients Researchers at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, U.K., are recruiting 20 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who can walk at least eight meters with a walking aid to test the effectiveness of a five-week exercise program using assistive robotic technology. A patient completes balance and strengthening exercises using the…