**Re-posted from: http://www.cantonmercy.org/press-releases/Mercy-Hosts-Author-and-Inspirational-Speaker-Matt-Cavallo**
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct 08, 2013
CONTACT:
Cindy Hickey, 330-430-2767
cindy.hickey@cantonmercy.org
Cavallo shares his story of how to live your best life despite chronic illness
Canton, Ohio: If you or someone you love has experienced the life-changing effects of a major chronic illness, you’ll want to hear author and speaker Matt Cavallo share his inspiring story of survival and success after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). Mercy Regional Rehabilitation Center will host this free community program at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14 in Mercy Hall Auditorium. Register today online at http://bit.ly/CavalloMMC or by calling 330-489-1333.
Seemingly overnight, Cavallo went from a healthy man to someone who was numb from the waist down and unable to walk. At age 28, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. His memoir, The Dog Story: A Journey Into a New Life with Multiple Sclerosis captures his emotional pain when diagnosed with MS, and further chronicles his very intimate journey to regain his physical health and inner strength to fight his chronic illness. He shares stories about personal relationships that taught him the most about overcoming trauma and how to lead an ordinary and miraculous life. His dog Teddy became one of those life coaches.
As a result of his diagnosis, Cavallo has dedicated his life and career to health care and the fight against MS. He delivers motivational patient experience lectures all over the country, as well as inspiring organizational presentations for companies using his story as a platform. He recently finished his Master of Science in Health Care Informatics from Arizona State University and works at a Neuroscience Clinic where he helped patients like himself every day before taking his current position training clinicians on how to use medical software to improve the patient experience. Originally from the Boston suburbs, Cavallo currently works and lives with his wife and two sons in Chandler, Arizona.
To learn more about Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio, visit ourAbout Us page.