June 25, 2024 Columns by Ahna Crum Feeling grateful on my 8th stem cell transplant birthday June is a special month for me. Eight years ago I had an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) in Moscow to treat my multiple sclerosis (MS). On June 22, I celebrated my eighth stem cell birthday! A stem cell transplant, or “stemmie day,” is when patients…
June 18, 2024 Columns by Ahna Crum Embracing the unknown in Russia taught me a crucial lesson Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. In June 2016, I traveled to Moscow with two friends. The first evening we were…
May 21, 2024 Columns by Ahna Crum I feel like I’ve lost time while living with multiple sclerosis There have been so many times I’ve started something but was unable to finish it. There have been so many things I’ve intended to do, but somehow never followed through on them. The gate of my mom’s backyard privacy fence is broken. Half of it is missing. A dear friend…
May 7, 2024 Columns by Ahna Crum Recent vision problems with MS remind me to focus on my progress Is there something you now have that you once hoped and prayed for? I’ve been struggling with the demands of a new job for the past few weeks. As a virtual dietitian, I heavily rely on computers to meet with clients and do other necessary work. But staring at a…
April 2, 2024 Columns by Ahna Crum Learning to walk for the umpteenth time with multiple sclerosis I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve had to relearn how to walk. Learning to walk is a milestone accomplishment. But as you age, life finds ways to knock you down. Injuries, sprains, or broken bones may keep you immobile while you’re waiting for your body to recover.
March 19, 2024 Columns by Ahna Crum How MS molded my life and taught me to balance grit and grace As an active 3-year-old, I spent every minute of recess on the monkey bars. I was hyperfocused on getting to the other side. I’d fall and try again until my hands blistered from the hot metal in the Florida sun, and then repeat this cycle the next day. Grit is…
