My wife is an MS survivor.  She goes about each day doing things she loves to do.  She works as a teacher and helps children with special needs.  She sings in the choir at church and serves as a deaconness.  She cares for her family and attends meetings with an MS support group.

Our annual tradition involves participating in the Walk MS event held by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  The Ohio Buckeye Chapter brings the event every year to different parts of the state.  We started out participating in walk events in downtown Cleveland.  Later we attended walk events in Mentor, and have been attending the Mentor walks ever since.  We rally our teammates who help with fundraising and making donations, and hit the trail where we walk in support of my wife and all who struggle with the disorder.

Multiple sclerosis is not deadly.  It affects mobility, as it creates scarring of the tissue called myelin – which is an insulator for nerve cells – and the scarring is called sclerosis.  The scarring affects multiple cells in different areas of the body, hence the name multiple sclerosis.  Men and women are affected by it, and there are different types and stages.  Some stages, like Relapsing-Remitting, can affect mobility occasionally when there are flare-ups.  Sometimes they can be downright scary.  The Progressive level is more severe, immobilizing those affected, and some either walk with support from canes or walkershttp://www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters?chapters=6538,6539.

Family members and friends can rally together in support of anyone affected by MS.  The National MS Society is supporting research to develop treatments to improve and maintain a good quality of life for those afflicted, and hopefully find a cure to lead to a world free of MS.  Learn more about their efforts by visiting their website at NationalMSSociety.org.