31 Days of MS

Photo courtesy of Katie Collett Day 31 of 31 This is Katie Collett’s story: “You have multiple sclerosis” were words that struck fear in my heart nine years ago. I thought my life and my dreams were over. As I learned more about my diagnosis and met…

Photo courtesy of Sam Mizzelle   Day 30 of 31 This is Kathy Reagan Young’s story: I’m Kathy Reagan Young. I was diagnosed with MS 13 years ago. I was so blindsided when I got the diagnosis, I don’t think I truly processed it for a couple…

Photo courtesy of Joanna Hammond Day 29 of 31 This is Joanna Hammond’s story: I was diagnosed with MS back in January 2018, and I felt like my world had fallen apart. One of the very best things I did very quickly was to attend my local…

Photo courtesy of Carter Stough Lowe Day 28 of 31 This is Carter Stough Lowe’s story: I first noticed extreme blurriness in my right eye when I was home for my grandfather’s funeral and informed my mother of my vision problems. She sent me to her eye…

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Wiley Day 27 of 31 This is Caroline Craven’s story: This year marks 20 years since my MS diagnosis, yet every day brings something new. Every day reminds me of some shift in life that I chose to make so that thriving with MS is…

Photo courtesy of @JackieHicksFondMemories Day 26 of 31 This is Stacy Barton’s story: I’m Stacy Barton, and this is my story: In 2005, I was married with two children, including an autistic daughter, and working on Capitol Hill.  I had grown accustomed to walking around…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…