Along with hardships, my MS diagnosis has been a journey of learning
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Following his MS diagnosis, Macho Lara says he's redefining success in terms of faithfulness, presence, and sustainability. (Photos courtesy of Macho Lara)
In recognition of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in March, the MS Awareness Month 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 #MSAwarenessMonth, or read the full series.
In January 2025, at the age of 43, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). This diagnosis followed months of tests due to persistent hand numbness.
From the outside, my life appears to be full and fulfilling. I’m a pastor, an educator, a writer, a husband, and a parent. However, MS has subtly altered the way I navigate even the most ordinary moments.
My left fingertips don’t always register sensations as they once did, which requires more attention and patience when typing. My focus can also slip unexpectedly. Additionally, fatigue is no longer something I can simply push through. I must plan around it, negotiate with it, and sometimes even surrender to it.
Lara receives treatment for his multiple sclerosis.
What surprised me the most wasn’t the physical symptoms, but the ongoing sense of recalibration. MS doesn’t arrive as a single, abrupt interruption. Instead, it manifests in small, persistent ways. I experience longer pauses before words come, need to stop sooner than expected, and have a heightened awareness that my body, which I trusted for decades, now requires listening rather than assumption.
There’s a particular grief associated with invisible symptoms. While I often appear fine from the outside, I’m consistently managing cognitive fog, sensory loss, and an energy budget that doesn’t stretch as far as it used to, forcing me to manage daily fatigue. I’m still learning to refrain from explaining myself excessively and to accept that my body can no longer perform tasks on demand.
MS is teaching me something I hadn’t realized I needed to learn: It’s pushing me toward honesty. I can no longer rely solely on strength or productivity as a measure of my worth. Instead, I’m redefining success in terms of faithfulness, presence, and sustainability. Some days, this means doing less, while other days, it means doing one thing well and accepting that as enough.
I’ve become more mindful of the quiet courage displayed by others living with MS. Their resilience rarely manifests in loud displays. Instead, it’s evident in the subtle adjustments they make, the revised plans they create, and the daily practice of patience.
There exists a shared language of adaptation and persistence that doesn’t require explanation once you’re part of it.
I share this story not as a testament to overcoming. (I’ll admit that I’m still grappling with this.) Instead, it’s my attempt to continue moving forward.
MS has altered the dynamics of my life, and it has been challenging. However, it hasn’t extinguished my sense of purpose. I’m still learning how to create, lead, love, and be honest within the limitations I’ve been given. I’m discovering that a slower life can still be fulfilling.
If this story resonates with even one person who is newly diagnosed, quietly struggling, or learning to live differently than they anticipated, then sharing it is worthwhile.
