If I asked you what you know about multiple sclerosis (MS), what would you say? I quizzed a few friends and the most common response was, Isn’t that what Selma Blair has?
Well, yeah… true… but nearly a million people in the US are living with MS. While that’s a big number, the condition isn’t prevalent enough to gain much attention in mainstream popular donation pages.
MS is an extremely complicated disorder; in short, it’s an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.
Do you know what a person with MS looks like?
They look just like you. MS, while it can be devastating, isn’t always immediately evident when you meet someone. Symptoms can range from vision problems to chronic pain and fatigue to the inability to use your limbs. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society reports that no two patients present exactly alike.
I’ve got another question for you: When is World MS Day?
Easy enough to answer with a quick Google search: May 30
And then there’s one more question…
Why is this day important to anyone who hasn’t been personally affected?
Let’s meet a local mother who can help us better understand the answer to this very important question.
Erika Valiente, a Mom Living With MS
I spoke with a local mom who was diagnosed with MS ten years ago. As I furiously scrawled notes on my paper, she generously shared her story. I hope that you gain useful insight for your own life, as I did.
What were you doing on Sept 24, 2009? That date likely doesn’t stick out to you for any particular reason but for Erika Valiente, this is a date she’ll never forget: The day she found herself in a wheelchair and first learned of her condition.
Erika was a health and wellness coach for a local hospital; she was young, active, and had no preexisting conditions. Her sudden diagnosis was a complete shock. She’s no longer in a wheelchair but will always live with the reality of MS.
It’s a reminder to all of us that we shouldn’t take one day of good health for granted.
She’s currently a working mom of three young children (including a pair of boy/girl twins) and lives a healthy life, refusing to give in to fear of the unknown with her MS diagnosis.
Erika urges everyone to do whatever is necessary to reduce and manage stress in their everyday lives (it’s thought that stress can be a trigger for MS). She wisely observed, People think about protecting their heart and brain but they totally neglect their nervous system!”
Why We Should All Care About World MS Day
Speaking to Erika was eye-opening and brought to mind some practical reminders that we should all keep in mind. These are the things that she believes everyone should know about MS and life in general.
- You don’t know everyone’s story.
- When we see a young, seemingly vibrant person step out of their car in the handicapped space of a parking lot, how many of us would judge them? Would we criticize them, assuming we know their story?
- If someone is walking slowly on a busy sidewalk, do we get frustrated that they are being inconsiderate of those around them?
- Are we compassionate when someone seems to be struggling to keep up in their life, in some capacity?
- Your health matters.
- Erika believes, and research supports, that when someone is healthy they are better able to handle a health crisis.
- The way you eat, exercise, sleep and think will help you live a longer life with more vitality (even if you’re never faced with a scary diagnosis)
- Mindset is everything.
- Erika said that she believes keeping a positive mindset has helped her stay healthy since her diagnosis.
- My experience as a mindset coach and many years of studying healthy habits has repeatedly reinforced to me that “those who think they can… can.”
- A positive, optimistic attitude has been proven to reduce stress. Living in a state of elevated stress can create and/or exacerbate chronic disease, decrease your vitality and the length of your life.
How You Can Help
While you may not be directly affected by #worldMSday, you can show solidarity and support by taking a quick action with a big impact. Some ideas here may spark inspiration.
The world is full of people who just want to be understood; be kind and supportive whenever possible. And it’s always possible.
Thank you for sharing her story, Candice!
Thank you for bringing awareness to MS!
Thanks for sharing Erika’s story Candice. I learned a lot about MS that I didn’t know!
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