March 22, 2024 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MS lesions grow from center outward, new mapping study shows In multiple sclerosis (MS), lesions ā areas of abnormal tissue in the nervous system ā start as a core of a few inflammatory immune cells, with inflammatory damage then spreading outward from these cells to form a lesion. That’s according to a new study from Sweden, in which researchers…
September 9, 2021 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell As My Disease Progresses, I Choose to Grow I watch my multiple sclerosis progress. I see it progress in moments of defeat. I think of it when I fall. I curse it when I break or canāt open things. I grieve over it when my body fails me. I watch as my independence slips away like…
July 23, 2021 Columns by Jamie Hughes Permanent Ink: My Tattoo Serves as an Important Reminder On July 10, I did something I never thought Iād do: I got a tattoo! Iāve always been fascinated by body art, and any time I see someone with ink I admire, I always ask a ton of questions about it. Sure, I ask how much time it took and…
May 20, 2021 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Get Out of Your Own Way: Growth at 36,000 Feet I find peace at 36,000 feet. Quasi-calm. My surroundings and I move in unison with little friction. The hum of the Boeing 737 lulls me to sleep. Tranquility is a powerful provocateur when turbulence is your norm, a juxtaposition to the bed of billowy clouds below. As if…
April 22, 2021 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell Coming Full Circle in My Relationship With My Mother She held me in a fierce hug. It had been a year since I had held my mother so closely. I rested my chin on her shoulder and silently thanked God. As I looked up, my eyes met hers. I knew what question was coming, along with the weight of…
January 12, 2021 Columns by Jessie Ace Learning to Appreciate My Personal Progress and Growth āOoh, I found some of your artwork in the loft. Did you still want it?ā My mumās beautiful, melodic voice sang through the phone during our regular chat.Ā āHeck yes! Can I pick it up tomorrow?ā I replied. I didnāt know what had happened…
November 22, 2019 Columns by Jamie Hughes Making (and Appreciating) Space As an MS patient (and an insatiable polymath), Iām always on the lookout for new information. Recently, I learned about an interesting concept in Japanese culture called “Ma,” and ever since, Iāve been trying to work out how I can incorporate more of it into…
October 3, 2019 Columns by Jennifer (Jenn) Powell The Journey to Self-love Is Long and Painful At 17, I began a 20-year odyssey with endometriosis. The doctor’s platitudes and disbelief were astonishing and leveled my sense of self. The findings of severe endometriosis served as a painful “I told you so.” My life became a whirlwind of physical and emotional upheaval. For a young woman,…
April 19, 2017 Columns by Teresa Wright-Johnson Season of Spring is Analogous to the Cycles of Chronic Illness This past week has been uplifting. The sun was out and the weather was enjoyable. Spring has officially arrived, and I was able to get out and really appreciate the nice days. I did not do much of anything, however, I was out and about. Easter Sunday was…