My niece’s diagnosis of MS brought us closer together

From left, Adela Puente and her niece, Desiree Lama, spend time together in downtown San Antonio. (Photos courtesy of Desiree Lama)

Day 31 of 31

This is Adela Puente’s story:

Lama and Puente share a hug at Desiree’s college graduation.

Being the youngest of six, I always wished I had a younger sibling, someone to look up to me like I did mine. I suppose that’s why I’ve always been so close to my nieces and nephews. They all see me as a sister, not an aunt, and I’m totally OK with that.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with my “lamations” — my nickname for Desiree, my oldest niece, the only one I didn’t get to grow up with. Due to living situations and only being 7 at the time she was born, I wasn’t able to spend time with her until she was a teenager, which was only a few years before she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Our bond was instant when I met her; we became besties. We’ve made so many memories together, from late-night drives just for snacks to taking traffic cones home, which is one of our favorite memories to talk about.

On the day she was diagnosed, I thought, “Oh, surely some antibiotics will make her well soon.” But after looking into it, I realized MS was a lifelong disease. That broke my heart, knowing Desiree would constantly be battling this condition.

From left, Adela Puente, Manuela Lama, Desiree Lama, and Michael Lama Jr. enjoy springtime at the park.

It’s been almost a decade since her diagnosis, and I’ve seen her fight like hell against MS. It hasn’t stopped her from achieving her goals or living her life. She’s thriving in circumstances that would make others want to quit. She is the pure definition of strength, and I’ve never been as proud of someone as I am of her.

Our bond was strong before Desiree’s MS diagnosis, but it’s even stronger now. I’ve always been emotionally secluded, but she’s one of the few people for whom I’ll always make my unconditional love known. There’s not a single thing in this world that will stop me from being there for her. I am always a call or text away.

I know I said I always wanted a younger sibling to look up to me, but here I am, looking up to my little lamations in awe and admiration instead. I love you, Desiree, and would move mountains for you if you needed me to.

Note: Adela Puente’s niece Desiree Lama is a columnist and social media moderator for Multiple Sclerosis News Today. Her column “Authentically Human“ appears each Wednesday.

In recognition of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in March, the MS Community Spotlight campaign features a series of stories highlighting the real-life experiences of people affected by MS, written in their own words. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Pinterest for more stories like this, using the hashtag #MSSpotlight, or read the full series.