February 28, 2016
All I heard was “wheelchair” and “blind.“
When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995, I was a successful fashion designer, strong athlete, martial artist and a dedicated yogi. And, I was just weeks away from marrying the love of my life.
February 26, 2016
Thriving didn’t always come easily, and it still doesn’t.
I’ve had MS for thirty years. When I was first told I had the disease there was no treatment even on the horizon. My neurologist was more upset about the diagnosis than I was; I was only relieved to finally have a reason to explain all the weird symptoms I’d been having. At that time I was the single mother of a five year old and, still working, I had to figure out how to juggle a job and the care of my son. Managing exacerbations, hospitalizations, a full time job and motherhood, was not easy and I used to say “I do everything badly”. I didn’t really have much time to think about MS. If I did think about it at all, it was something I kept “on the shelf” and took down when I had to deal with it. I spent a lot of time explaining to my son that there was nothing “really” wrong with me and, in a way, I came to believe that.
February 26, 2016
Therapeutic riding (also known as equine therapy) is a popular activity for people of all ages and levels of ability and disability. Participants learn “from the ground up” how to care for, communicate with, and ride horses in a safe and encouraging environment.
MS Cure Fund recently had the pleasure of visiting Ironstone Farm, a therapeutic riding facility located in Andover Massachusetts, home of “Challenge Unlimited”. Employing horses in a working farm environment, Challenge Unlimited provides beneficial therapy for people with a wide range of physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities. It uses the horse’s unique ability to enhance a person’s movements and touch a person’s heart, inspiring strength, hope and encouragement.
February 26, 2016
What does “Thriving Beyond MS©” mean? Simply put, it is you defining your life and your disease, and not the other way around. We at MS Cure Fund have had the very distinct pleasure of meeting amazing people, who also happen to have MS. For them, thriving is a way of life, almost a religion.
January 29, 2016
This story was sent to MS Cure Fund by an attendee of our 3rd Annual MS Adaptive Ski Day.
A Day Skiing
By: Maggie H., Northborough, MA
The third annual MS Cure Fund MS Adaptive Ski Day took place on Monday, January 11th, 2016. The event was held at Sunday River in Maine.
“MSers” and their friends had gathered at the resort on Sunday evening for dinner and a presentation on “Overcoming MS and Thriving in Life”. Dinner was great and the talk was excellent, with a lively exchange of ideas. Emphasis was on the benefits of physical and mental exercise, good eating and mindfulness. MS Cure Fund events are different like that; they generally focus on wellness in the individual with MS rather than listing drug therapies.
July 06, 2015
Now that the weather is warm, there couldn’t be a better time to maximize your body’s vitamin D production without creating other negative issues in the process. This question was raised at a recent “Women Thriving with MS”© event in Los Angeles. “How do I get sun exposure safely and without causing my symptoms to worsen in the heat?”
Living in L.A. where the heat can reach 100o+ frequently, this is a legitimate question. Nobody should be exposed to intense sunlight without some form of protection. No sense helping treat your MS only to develop skin cancer.
June 04, 2015
Neuroscience News
June 1, 2015
Featured, Neuroscience
Implications profound for neurological diseases from autism to Alzheimer’s to multiple sclerosis.
In a stunning discovery that overturns decades of textbook teaching, researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have determined that the brain is directly connected to the immune system by vessels previously thought not to exist. That such vessels could have escaped detection when the lymphatic system has been so thoroughly mapped throughout the body is surprising on its own, but the true significance of the discovery lies in the effects it could have on the study and treatment of neurological diseases ranging from autism to Alzheimer’s disease to multiple sclerosis.
June 03, 2015
INDIANAPOLIS – If you feel overwhelmed by the notion of managing multiple sclerosis patients who seek your guidance in navigating their pregnancy, you’re not alone.
Comprehensive management programs for pregnant MS patients currently do not exist, even within most dedicated MS centers and clinics, Dr. Maria K. Houtchens said at the annual meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers.
June 01, 2015
MS Cure Fund Announces Two National Patient Education Programs
Written by: Jack Cowie
Multiple Sclerosis education. Sounds like a bit of an oxymoron. How do you educate about something that cannot be exactly diagnosed or defined? Bottom line – you keep trying.
MS Cure Fund had the opportunity to participate in two national conferences recently that define excellence in education. For those of you who are not aware, there are thousands of extraordinary doctors, nurses and academic researchers who have dedicated their professional lives to becoming better educated about all things MS to improve the ultimate outcome for you, the MS patient.
