“To me, MS research means a chance at finding a cure for, or improving the quality of life for those living with MS.
My hope for the future is that we find a way to halt the progression of the disease and reverse the damage already caused.
I stay connected to the MS community by attending MS Society information sessions, social gatherings, and fundraising events.”
– Gregory, diagnosed in 2007

“MS research, to me, means hope for all of the kiddos! I look at my family and would love for them to live in a world where they don't fear MS. I also hope, for myself, that I can live a long and healthy life without any deficits or pains.
I am proud to come from a country where so much great research is being done. I love to read all about the new theories and advancements in MS research; I'm also an MS Society ambassador and a support group facilitator.”
– Rachel, diagnosed in 2008

“I accepted my diagnosis with patience and humility. My path is to inspire others. That’s the ‘reason’ this happened. We can’t control everything in our lives. Some of us are diagnosed with MS, some of us are diagnosed with cancer. There are things that we can control like how we choose to move forward and what we decide to do with our diagnosis or whatever challenge comes our way."
– Melanie Bennett, diagnosed at age 30

“Researchers world-wide are closing in on mechanisms of repair in MS that will lead to therapies capable of halting the disease long-term and promoting meaningful recovery. It will happen. We will get there. Truth is, I’d walk away from it tomorrow if the work we were doing lacked integrity, didn’t ask big questions, or wasn’t focused on impacting lives. Science fails. Clinical trials fail. What drives me forward is that we are on the same team, and we have come a long way together in a relatively short period of time. Imagine what the next ten years will bring!”
– Dr. Jordan Warford, MS Bike Ambassador

“My mom had been residing at a rehabilitation center for some time and I noticed that she became invisible to others. People would walk by and ignore her, not understanding that she was still inside her debilitated body. My life and perspective started to shift. I wanted people to see her. Two years ago, I gained the courage to ask my mom if I could start taking photos of her and our time together. Thankfully she agreed, and this turned into a life-long photography project. Because of this project, so many people have been able to see my mom either again or for the first time.”
– Jamie, mother lives with MS

“The MS Society has been making great strides with their research of treatment options and symptom management. I’ve seen how far the research has come since my grandma and aunt were first diagnosed. I’m lucky to have been given a list of disease-modifying treatments to choose from after being diagnosed. I have treatment options and symptom management support that my other family members never had. With the progress in MS research, I’m striving to see a cure for MS in my lifetime for my grandma, for my aunt, and for myself.”
– Jennifer, diagnosed in 2016

“I’ll never forget the week I came back after being sick last fall. It was the first ground ball that I’d seen in a long time and I sprinted into the biggest dive I could. My heart pounded with euphoria as I felt the ball land into my glove. I remember standing up, brushing the shale off my uniform, and thinking ‘it’s good to be back.’ Baseball gives me a reason to beat MS. After everything I’ve been through, I’m taking full advantage of being healthy right now. I’m going to play the game I love until MS stops me.”
– Myles, diagnosed in 2010

For Sara, acceptance of MS comes from fully experiencing the present moment. Since this disease is unpredictable, Sara has stopped trying to look too far into the future. She feels she just has to accept that some days are more difficult than others and adapt to that. So she focuses her energy on getting through her daily activities while keeping a positive attitude toward the projects she hopes to achieve, both creative and personal. Resilience is crucial in the process she has undertaken of learning to live with MS.
– Sara, diagnosed in 2009

“Thanks to multiple sclerosis – and I really do mean thanks – I understood that, if I didn’t do it [open a yoga centre] now, I might not be able to do it in five or ten years. I just want to be present in everything I do. I want to be there for my kids and my partner, and in my work and my business. Anticipation changes the present moment, and the more I anticipate the future, the more I neglect the present. I want to live fully in the present moment and for now I’m choosing to live at 120 miles an hour.”
– Véronique, diagnosed in 2016