Consortium for a Cure: Witnessing Hope
Our emotional selves are unique to each of us. The catalysts that elicit tears and fears vary. We feel emotions rise and await their eruption. Contrarily, they can catch us off guard. Sometimes a seemingly benign stimulus can invoke strong feelings.
I should know better than to assume that anything is benign. The nature of my multiple sclerosis (MS) makes everything a variable. My recent emotional response was caused by some things that are superior to lesions: hope, knowledge, unity. This was a consortium.
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals or organizations that pool their resources to achieve a common goal.
This was CMSC Seattle 2019.
It was an honor to attend the 2019 Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting in Seattle. Though a minnow among whales, I felt part of a passionate community of doctors, researchers, nurses, physician assistants, psychologists, counselors, physical therapists, support staff, patients, and press who came together for one reason: to cure multiple sclerosis.
My emotional gamut was almost inexplicable; it was bubbling over with barely contained excitement. My brain was running the treadmill that my body could not. For someone lacking myelin, my brain experienced some serious pinball wizardry.
My mind broke loose in the exhibition hall. I was familiar with each company and exhibitor, and I understood what most of them did. The synergy was palpable. Then the tears fell.
The release was seismic.
I was left with a feeling of raw authenticity and a sense of belonging unlike any I had experienced before. I was overwhelmed by my surroundings and my reaction to them. Each attendee was present with us in mind. They meet, research, seek, treat, and test in pursuit of the greater good for those of us with MS.
And for that moment in time, I was among them.
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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 Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.
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Comments
J. Gregory
MS is merely a software problem. Researchers will at some point realize this. A "disease state". Therefore, by re-programming the negative regulatory Lingo-1 protein by communicating with it mathematically, coding it to perform properly at the correct speed, the Li81 antibody can bind normally to form the FAB Complex. Remember - idiopathic MS patients have an undamaged hard drive. And any software problem can be fixed. Thus, cured. So have hope. It's not that hard.
Sam
Excellent piece that really spoke to me. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Charles Dick
Just the fact that there is something in the MS research community called the "Consortium for a Cure" gives me hope. Therapies keep getting better, but we still have to keep taking them. I am looking forward to taking something once, and then no longer having this disease. Sooner is better than later.