Meet - Michelle McCartan

North Carolina, USA

When were you diagnosed with MS? 2006

What type of MS do you have? Primary Progressive MS (PPMS)

#1: Can you tell us a little about your journey with MS. How did you feel about your initial diagnosis and how it has affected your life?

Shortly after the birth of my 1st child, I was diagnosed with MS. I had gone out for a run, and my hands got really tingly and itchy. Once I saw my neurologist, I was diagnosed pretty quickly. Because I felt fine at the time, the diagnosis didn’t really hit me hard.

#2: What MS symptoms do you have and how do you manage them on a daily basis?

Everyone with MS experiences a very unique recipe of symptoms and I am loaded up. At present, I rely on a wheelchair for mobility full-time. I also suffer from neuropathy in both my hands and feet. Additionally, I also experience intense fatigue.

#3: Who/What has been your most important support system?

My support begins with my family and friends. It moves into my community. As well as, my social media network too.

#4: Do you use any accessories like canes, walkers, or wheelchairs to manage daily activities?

Unfortunately, over the past three years, my disease has progressed too quickly. I went from a cane to a walking bike. Then I moved onto my walker and I am now in a wheelchair full-time.

#5: How do you stay positive and motivated in your daily life? What do you do for self-care?

I cannot control what has happened to me. However, I do have control over how I react to it. I rely on my support system to keep me positive. Movement and relaxation are my self-care.

#6: Your story and experiences with MS are incredibly valuable and can provide encouragement and motivation to others in the community. What words of advice or encouragement would you give to someone who is newly diagnosed with MS or going through a challenging time right now?

Please remember that you are an experiment of one. You know yourself best and you need to take care of yourself. It will always be challenging, but just remember, you can do hard things too!

#7: Have you started a business or mission related to MS? Can you tell us about it and what inspired you to take this step?

I have not. However, my son is in the initial stages of forming a support source for the children of a parent with MS.

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Meet - Brittany McCown

Alabama, USA

When were you diagnosed with MS? January 2021

What type of MS do you have? Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)

#1: Can you tell us a little about your journey with MS. How did you feel about your initial diagnosis and how it has affected your life?

Although my Multiple Sclerosis (MS) journey officially began in January 2021, the worst part of it happened during the peak of the pandemic in mid-2020. To go from living a normal life as a nurse, to suddenly experiencing various symptoms, such as right-sided weakness, intense trigeminal neuralgia, dizzy spells, and balance problems was scary, to say the least. These issues were so bad that I couldn't even drive or carry out my job responsibilities effectively.

Learning that my condition was MS felt like a death sentence. Especially, since I had already experienced so many of its ugly symptoms in such a short span of time. At the time of my diagnosis, I was only 30 and at the prime of my nursing career. So, why was this happening? I was scared and confused. I had to give up the career that I loved and embark on a new path in nursing a couple of times. I fell into a grieving process. However eventually, I decided that this could not be the end!

#2: What MS symptoms do you have and how do you manage them on a daily basis?

The symptoms I experience now are much better since, I started my Ocrevus infusions. I have fatigue (sometimes severe), right arm weakness, pain (bearable mostly), and cog fog. Sometimes, I have balance issues and minor dizzy spells, but they are controlled at the moment.

#3: Who/What has been your most important support system?

I want to say my family, but the reality is that they don’t know how to fully support me. They love me through it instead. My biggest support has been from my mom and my online MS family/community. I would not have made it this far or have thrived without connecting with others who are fighting the same battle.

#4: Do you use any accessories like canes, walkers, or wheelchairs to manage daily activities?

Currently, I do not use anything. I’ve had to use a walker during a bad relapse before, but thankfully I've not had to use it recently.

#5: How do you stay positive and motivated in your daily life? What do you do for self-care?

I stay connected to other MS warriors and reach out when I am not feeling my best. I try to share as much as I can and pray every day. God has not brought me this far to quit! I’ve also learned to rest when I need it. I no longer run myself into the ground.

#6: Your story and experiences with MS are incredibly valuable and can provide encouragement and motivation to others in the community. What words of advice or encouragement would you give to someone who is newly diagnosed with MS or going through a challenging time right now?

My words of advice are to get connected. STAY connected with fellow warriors and your doctor. Maintain a good relationship with a good provider. Listen to your body and try to make any lifestyle changes that are necessary to live the best life you can with MS. It’s here. It’s real. It can be ugly sometimes. You have to find the little things in life that you love and focus on those.

#7: Have you started a business or mission related to MS? Can you tell us about it and what inspired you to take this step?

No, but hopefully I plan to start an MS organization here in Birmingham specifically for the MS warriors in my area. To the best of my knowledge, we do not have a lot of resources here.

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Meet - Katherine DeSilva

Massachusetts, USA

When were you diagnosed with MS? October 2017

What type of MS do you have? Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS)

#1: Can you tell us a little about your journey with MS. How did you feel about your initial diagnosis and how it has affected your life?

I was diagnosed with Optic Neuritis 12 years ago. My mother and a cousin on my mother's side both have MS. So, I knew in my heart it was in my future too. In 2014, while undergoing IVF treatment, I started experiencing symptoms. Prior to my diagnosis, multiple tests were conducted to check for Lyme, and several scans of my back were carried out to investigate any damage that could have been causing the sensory issues in my legs. From July 2015 till August 2016, I was pretty much symptom-free and assumed that I was in the clear. However, by August 2017, I couldn’t ignore how much my MS symptoms impacted my life with my new baby. I had an MRI in October of the same year, which confirmed my diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

#2: What MS symptoms do you have and how do you manage them on a daily basis?

MS affects my life in various ways from day to day. Sometimes I can almost pretend that I don’t have a chronic illness. Other times it is incredibly challenging to fulfill my responsibilities, such as work and caring for my daughter. Over the past two years, I have experienced increased symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, and sensory issues. During a relapse, my face, hands, feet, legs, and forearms are often plagued with numbness, pins, and needles, with my legs and feet being the most affected. At times, they can feel numb, burning, and painful all at once.

#3: Who/What has been your most important support system?

I am supported by a strong family and faith community. I also have a wonderful medical care team that works together to help me manage my progression.

#4: Do you use any accessories like canes, walkers, or wheelchairs to manage daily activities?

I can walk longer distances now, after significant amounts of physical therapy. However, for longer walks, I will use a cane for additional support. For days out that involve a significant amount of walking, I will use a rolling walker for quick access to somewhere to sit and for additional balance. As well as, If I am going somewhere that my rollator would not be the most effective like uneven terrain, narrow passages, or stairs, I will use a pair of forearm crutches.

#5: How do you stay positive and motivated in your daily life? What do you do for self-care?

It's usually easy for me to stay motivated. I have a lovely daughter who is spunky and empathetic. Doing my best for her is always a huge motivator. I also write about what I am going through to help me cope. I write and illustrate children’s books as part of my self-care routine. When I am feeling like “I just can’t do anything” drawing and writing makes me feel successful. Sometimes that means using speech-to-text or drawing with a computer because my hands aren’t able to hold a traditional drawing tool effectively.

#6: Your story and experiences with MS are incredibly valuable and can provide encouragement and motivation to others in the community. What words of advice or encouragement would you give to someone who is newly diagnosed with MS or going through a challenging time right now?

When you are first diagnosed it is an important time to let go of stress. It may mean letting go of unhealthy relationships, intentions of how your career will look going forward, or expectations of your home and social life. Taking a step back and simplifying what your life looks like will make it easier. I believe that you should focus on what is most important with the least amount of stress. I remind myself regularly that although my life might not look like other parents, it is still full of love and we can reach our goals and support each other.

#7: Have you started a business or mission related to MS? Can you tell us about it and what inspired you to take this step?

In the last year, I have become more active in Team Spinal Tap, a Bike MS team started by my cousin and uncle. I have also begun writing children’s books on the topic. In no way do I plan to make a business or career out of my writing, but it does give me something positive to focus on when I am having a hard time.

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Leave a comment, and share your experience. We would love to hear from you!