31 Days of MS

31 Days of MS: Choose to Live Life to the Fullest

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…

31 Days of MS: How I Took Back My Power

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

31 Days of MS: It All Started With Blurry Vision

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 grandfatherā€™s funeral and informed my mother of my vision problems. She sent me to her eye…

31 Days of MS: The Importance of Asking for Help

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…

31 Days of MS: Choose to Believe We Know More Today

Photo courtesy of @JackieHicksFondMemories Day 26 of 31 This is Stacy Barton’s story: Iā€™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…

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…

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…

31 Days of MS: An Unexpected Discovery

Photo courtesy of Dawn Morgan Day 23 of 31 This is Dawn Morgan’s story: Hi! Iā€™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…

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, Baloā€™s concentric sclerosis, happened in…

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.Ā  I have always been aĀ class clown.Ā Making those around me laugh gave me a high, and…

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.Ā  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…

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: 2006ā€“2011. The first five years were horrendous. I gave up, felt awful most…

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.

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…

31 Days of MS: Dreams Can Come True

Day 10 of 31 This is Trishna Bharadia’s story: Iā€™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…

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 Hileā€™s story: My husband jokes he knew I was a real runner when I asked him at a 10K, ā€œIs the course accurate?ā€ I was running fast and having…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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: Itā€™s been over 10 years since I was diagnosed with MS.Ā  Ironically, on the anniversary, I didnā€™t think about it. I realized a few days later…

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.

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 doesnā€™t. Almost two years ago ā€” when I had lost some vision, some sensation, some balance, some mobility ā€” a…