It was 8AM, and I was late. Again. The Education Lecture Hall at Arizona State was already buzzing with over 150 students, the sound of chatter and rustling notebooks echoing through the vast room. I hurriedly locked up my bike outside, still catching my breath from the ride. It had been a late night—probably too […]
The Boiling Frog: A Lesson in Perseverance and Growth Read More »
There’s a moment from the Peanuts comic strip that I’ve always related to: Charlie Brown gearing up to kick the football. Every time, he gives it his all, determined to finally succeed. And every time, Lucy pulls the ball away, leaving him flat on his back, staring at the sky, wondering what just happened. That’s
Who’s Got the Ball Now, Lucy? Read More »
I lost my voice. But today, I take it back. It’s been a while since I last shared here, but today, I’m writing with renewed purpose and a fresh perspective. For years, this blog has been a space where I’ve documented my journey with multiple sclerosis (MS), sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in
Reclaiming My Voice: A New Chapter Begins Read More »
Multiple sclerosis has been compared to an iceberg because 90 percent of the disease activity may be hiding under the surface and not visible to the naked eye. This is especially true with cognition and fatigue. If your energy levels are low or your memory becomes foggy, doing even simple daily chores and activities can
Streamline Your Daily Activities with MS Read More »
Many of you have read my previous article about how a denied insurance authorization led me to an MS relapse, rendering me nonfunctional on my right side. As it turned out, MRI studies revealed that I had two new active lesions on my brain and one on the right side of my cervical spine that
Utilizing Rehabilitation Professionals in Recovery of an MS Relapse Read More »
**Originally posted by Matt Cavallo on Mango Health at http://blog.mangohealth.com/post/143011766224/the-healing-power-of-pets** I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the spring of 2005, and I was laying in my hospital bed wondering if I was ever going to walk again. A month after my hospital discharge, I was devastated to find out at the follow-up appointment
The Healing Power of Pets Read More »
Many of you have followed my chronicles with MS for years. In honor of MS Education and Awareness Month, I wanted to share a personal story of what it is like to go through a bout of optic neuritis. This is the true story of what happened to me in February 2006. I first posted
An Optic Neuritis Relapse Read More »
Last year at this time I wrote about how small changes can make a big difference in the New Year. Some of the advice from that post included: developing a financial plan, changing eating habits, exercising, getting back on your schedule and setting attainable goals. I used this advice to make major changes in my
2016 – A Work-in-Progress Read More »
A resolution is a change in behavior and as you know, we are creatures of habit. And most of us don’t like change. As a person living with multiple sclerosis, my resolutions typically center around wellness or diet initiatives that I believe will help me better manage my MS. As I write this, the local
5 Steps to Making Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick (This Year) Read More »
In September of 2010, I was faced with a devastating decision. I was experiencing severe spinal stenosis and a fractured C6 vertebra, which my doctors believed was a result of complications due to my initial onset of transverse myelitis five years earlier. My decision was to have an emergency cervical fusion to address the problem
Finding the Strength to Fight MS for the Holidays Read More »