Photo courtesy of Anna Sochocky Day 31 of 31 This is Anna Sochocky’s (annasochocky.com) story: “The MRI shows lesions on your brain and the upper part of your cervical spine, which explains the numbness throughout your body and the limited function on your right side,” my new neurologist…

Photo courtesy of Lance Schultz Day 30 of 31 This is Lance Schultz’s (@drlschultz) story: My first symptoms began in 2006, the year I turned 50. At first, a cold breeze on my legs would cause severe spasticity. I would walk like Frankenstein’s monster. Shortly thereafter,…

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Conway Day 29 of 31 This is Jennifer Conway’s (@jenzconway) story: I was 24 when I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in 1998. Over the years, I’ve learned so much about how to manage daily life with MS and all that comes with…

Photo courtesy of Roy Padilla Day 28 of 31 This is Roy Padilla’s (@royale_padilla) story: My journey with MS began around fall 2008 (allegedly). One morning, I woke up with a small headache, that day by day got worse. It became so bad I couldn’t keep my balance.

Photo courtesy of Julie Tovar Day 27 of 31 This is Julie Tovar’s (@theadventuresofsamandjulie) story: My journey started in December 2019, as I was planning my February 2020 wedding. I had developed a limp and was experiencing unusual symptoms along with lots of pain. I was…

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Singleton Day 26 of 31 This is Stephanie Singleton’s story: I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in August 2014 after going to the hospital for new-onset double vision. I was not surprised when the emergency room doctor came in to tell me that…

I’m changing my mind about MS Awareness Month — at least a little — thanks to “31 Days of MS.” Whether it’s an awareness month or a week, or whether it’s for MS or disabilities in general, I’ve never been a big fan of these types of initiatives. But this…

Photo courtesy of Marie Pontini Day 25 of 31 This is Marie Pontini’s (@mariepontini) story: The page on the previous chapter of my life had turned. It was pointless to wonder why, hang on to my past expectations of the future, or worry. My accomplishments, education, and knowledge were…

Photo courtesy of Debbie Petrina Day 24 of 31 This is Debbie Petrina’s (debbiems.com) story: My story begins with a lesson I learned when I was a young girl. My Aunt Josie was very smart and a keen listener. She would ask provocative questions, frequently adding “use your…

Photo courtesy of Feliciano Velazquez Day 23 of 31 This is Feliciano Velazquez’s (@felicia.no) story: I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS at the end of April 2020, right at the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic, at age 21. I remember experiencing double vision and had a pretty…

Photo courtesy of Yazzie Nicolau Day 22 of 31 This is Yazzie Nicolau’s (@yazzietalks) story: I am a 31-year-old free-spirited vegan and coming up on my five-year “diagnosary” of MS. Yep, that’s me! To be honest, since being diagnosed, my life has felt a lot smoother. I’ve…

Photo courtesy of Ken Bach Day 21 of 31 This is Ken Bach’s (@kens.ms.fitmess) story: Ten years ago, on the day my youngest son was born, I woke up unable to move my right arm. A month later, results from an MRI confirmed my suspicions and showed nine…

Photo courtesy of Holly Stevens Day 20 of 31 This is Holly Stevens’ (@buckie_mom) story: My MS was diagnosed in November 2006, back in my native California, after I experienced numbness and tingling on the left side of my body following a 5K run that April. I…

Photo courtesy of Lissette Mares Day 19 of 31 This is Lissette Mares’ (@ms.ironman) story: There is so much in life we get to choose but there’s more that is out of our control. I find myself telling people we are all dealt with many cards in life,…

Photo courtesy of Tiffany Wilcher Day 18 of 31 This is Tiffany Wilcher’s (@tmwilcher) story: My name is Dr. Tiffany Wilcher, and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 22 while serving my country in the U.S. Army as a combat medic. I had no…

Photo courtesy of Marek Klimkowski Day 17 of 31 This is Marek Klimkowski’s (@runningwithms_pl) story: My MS story began probably when I was 14 years old, but the disease wasn’t confirmed at that time. I had been bitten by a tick and diagnosed with Lyme disease. I…

Photo courtesy of Pamela Neckameyer Day 16 of 31 This is Pamela Neckameyer’s story: My symptoms started in 2004. I would trip and fall for no reason. My mind would say “walk” but my legs wouldn’t move for a few seconds. I went to a neurologist who tested…

Photo courtesy of Melody Sapien Day 15 of 31 This is Melody Sapien’s (@autoimmune.wellnesswarriors) story: Eight years ago, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I was 15 years old. In a lot of ways, I am grateful for my diagnosis because, without it, I would have never…

Photo courtesy of Rennie Rankin Day 14 of 31 This is  Rennie Rankin’s (@yogaren) story: My name is Rennie and I have been living with MS since the early 1990s, diagnosed on 6/2/2003. I will never forget how surreal it was hearing my diagnosis and feeling…

Photo courtesy by Michael Drohan Day 13 of 31 This is Michael Drohan’s (@mdrohan) story: I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 18, right before high school graduation. I describe the 18 years since as a slow decline in my abilities. My relapsing-remitting MS has shifted to…

Photo courtesy of Inês Velosa Day 12 of 31 This is Inês Velosa’s (@inesdnobre) story: On June 6, 2021, after some confusing days, my husband was diagnosed with MS. I remember hearing this diagnosis for the first time and thinking that life, as we knew it, was…

Photo courtesy of Tyler Campbell Day 11 of 31 This is Tyler Campbell’s (@tcspeaks32 ) story: At 22, I was suffering from paralysis and even erectile dysfunction. I felt so lost and yearned to be found. I needed a friend, someone to lean on who wouldn’t judge…

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Hinds Day 10 of 31 This is Carolyn Hinds’ (@carriecnh12) story: Mild cognitive impairment, or CI for short, probably doesn’t sound as debilitating or challenging when compared to other symptoms of multiple sclerosis, but it is. The word “mild” can be very misleading because…

Photo courtesy of Cassidy Krygger Day 9 of 31 This is Cassidy Krygger’s (@cassidykrygger) story: I remember the day of my first MS symptom, more than three years ago, as clearly as if it were happening now. It was October 2018, and I realized that every time I…

Photo courtesy of Kaci Bell Day 8 of 31 This is Kaci Bell’s (@myelinmoxi) story: Something I feel a handful of people in the disabled community have experienced but are too shy to open up about is “imposter syndrome.” Imposter syndrome and chronic illness rarely fall in the…

Photo courtesy of Alexios Touloupis Day 7 of 31 This is Alexios Touloupis’ (@alexios4real) story: I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in March 2016, my junior year of high school, when I was only 16. For months I struggled with one health problem after another. It was…

Photo courtesy of Kali Thomas Day 6 of 31 This is Kali Thomas’s story: Just a few months after my 21st birthday, in July 2013, I received a call that would change my life forever. I will never forget my doctor’s words: “I’m looking at your MRI, and I…

Photo courtesy of Agata Day 5 of 31 This is Agata’s (@beatingmyms) story: It was 2019. My life was about to turn upside down, and I had no idea. I should’ve noticed the signs: miscarriage, anxiety, depression. I just got married to the love of my life. I…

Photo courtesy of Laurie Lambert Day 4 of 31 This is Laurie Lambert’s story: The first thing I did was worry. When my friend told me of her MS diagnosis, I thought: she has always been the sharpest member of our circle — the one with the most expansive…

Photo Courtesy of Tatiana Andjelic Day 3 of 31 This is Tatiana Andjelic’s (@tatianaandjelic/@msonthemind) story: I laughed a lot when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in March 2019. My diagnosis was a tangled string of trial, error, and realism. I was lucky to work primarily with…