November 9, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell A Beacon of Hope Amid MS-Related Pain Do you have pain? Although prone to subjectivity, I am certain the majority of you silently said yes. I did. I hesitated to write this, as pain, from the definition of it to the management of it, is…
November 2, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Don’t Miss Out on Life I love photographs and have them strewn about and framed throughout the house. From grandchildren and goldens, holidays and travels, each holds a cherished memory. I am happiest taking photos and have cultivated somewhat of a hobby doing…
October 26, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Finding Support When Living with MS Last Saturday, I received a FaceTime call from my father who was attending my cousin’s wedding reception. Both he and my mom traveled out of state to attend it, as did the majority of my large extended…
October 19, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Accepting that Sometimes, We Need Rest By the grace of God, I am a naturally positive individual who lends optimism and hope to even the bleakest of situations. Because of this, it is difficult to find me in a situation when…
October 12, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Good Days and Not-So-Good Days with Multiple Sclerosis Some days are easier than others, and some days are just not easy at all. Today I find myself in the latter of the two. It’s Monday morning, and my…
October 5, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Canine Companionship and Multiple Sclerosis I am an avid dog lover and very involved in volunteering with the golden retriever rescue here in Southern California. On any given day, you will find my 8-year-old rescue, Abby, here along with two to three other…
September 28, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Being a Caregiver with MS I pride myself on never lending power to my limitations, but when I became the primary caretaker for my husband after he underwent hip replacement surgery, my limitations were reached. Ten days later, I am slowly emerging…
September 14, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Choosing Happiness I find it funny when people ask how and why I am so positive and happy. Am I supposed to be sad and negative just because I have multiple sclerosis? There are certainly days when the pain…
September 7, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Enjoy the Journey While Traveling with MS I have always had the travel bug, and I’ve been to a myriad of countries and cities around the world. From far-away foreign cities to exotic beach locales, I find great pleasure in refining my cultural literacy.
August 31, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Making Plans with an Unpredictable Disease I love getting together with family and friends, volunteering at the golden retriever rescue, attending events and keeping my calendar full. It is fulfilling to make plans, but as many of you with MS know, it is…
August 24, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Using Peace of Mind to Cope with MS In this chaotic world in which we live, it is hard to be still, to sit with nothing but our thoughts. There is always something to worry about or preoccupy our minds that never allows us to rest…
August 17, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Invisible No More My parents taught me at an early age not to judge others based on appearance. My mother would gently admonish me if I would stare or point at someone in a wheelchair…
August 10, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Tired of Fatigue Many of us with multiple sclerosis have heard the saying, “I go to bed wired and wake up tired.” This is quite accurate, as fatigue is one of the most prevalent aspects of…
August 3, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Exchanging a Sole for a Soul What is it about the passage of time that can make you look at the same situation with diametrically differing points of view? I have come to find that my acceptance of, and zest…
July 27, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Choosing to Infuse Myself with Optimism Living with an incurable, progressive disease can be physically and emotionally exhausting. I’ve always been a girl who thrives on proof and assurances, and there seem to be little of either where MS is concerned. It’s taken me quite…
July 20, 2017 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Silver Linings A silver lining is the hopeful side of a situation that might seem gloomy on the surface. A metaphor for optimism, this accurately describes who I am. This is not to say that I don’t experience the inevitable darkness…
September 21, 2023 Columns by Benjamin Hofmeister Learning the hard way that with MS, no infection is routine