Will you join the revolution against multiple sclerosis?

I was once very good at getting out of the way.

This skill served me well in dodgeball games when I was younger, and then later during my military career. Given my various injuries, you might be skeptical about that last comment, but I was actually renowned for my ability to avoid being wounded.

These days I don’t have the need to get out of the way very much. That’s a good thing because, thanks to multiple sclerosis (MS), I don’t have the ability to do so. The top speed of my electric wheelchair is 6 mph in a straight line. If there’s such a thing as an agile sport model wheelchair, mine isn’t it.

Most of the time I don’t mind, but tonight, I’d like to set off some fireworks in celebration of the Fourth of July, and getting out of the way is a pretty important part of that.

That’s OK, because even though we associate the holiday with fireworks, that’s not what it’s about. In the U.S., today is about celebrating our independence. It’s a solemn holiday and a source of pride for Americans.

With that in mind, I present to you several parallels between the war for U.S. independence and my multiple sclerosis.

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I was diagnosed with MS on Feb. 14, 2014. I haven’t declared my independence of the disease yet, and don’t know if I ever will, but it was important to me to know the source of my troubles. I may never win, but at least I know what I’m at war with.

The signers of the Declaration of Independence didn’t know what the future held for them, either. Like me, they were extremely dissatisfied with their current state and opted for defiance. Our risks are different, but I think our attitudes are similar.

The American Revolutionary War didn’t begin when the colonies formally declared their desire to be an independent nation. There had been ongoing conflicts for years leading up to the recognized start of the revolution and “the shot heard ’round the world” the year before that.

In much the same way, my MS didn’t begin with my diagnosis; there were plenty of signs before that. I don’t know when my disease officially began, but I often say that five years before I was diagnosed, I tripped on some stairs leading into the reception hall at my wedding. I don’t remember how many stairs there were, only that I arrived at the bottom of them on my bottom. Fortunately, I didn’t pull my bride down with me and no one caught it on film, so it was merely the “trip heard ’round the reception hall.”

Initially, the revolution was fought with limited outside support, but in 1778, France joined the effort. That support turned the war into an international one, boosted morale, and helped turn the tide in favor of the Americans.

I didn’t seek support right away to help me manage MS. In fact, I waited four years to do so. Since then, I feel allied with an international group of people united against a common enemy. Knowing that folks from all over the world are joined with me in defiance of MS has lifted my spirits.

Is the tide turning? With all the advances in MS treatments, I’d like to think so. Will we win? I believe we will, eventually. I don’t know if the end of our revolution against MS will happen in my lifetime. I just know that my compatriots and I will continue to fight toward that goal.

If it does happen in my lifetime, you can bet I’ll set off some fireworks. My ability to get out of the way may still be impaired, but I’ll chance it.

Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.