Tri-california Events Blog There is Life After Diagnosis

by: Stephanie Crook I am a 37 year old teacher, researcher, and endurance athlete. Last year I was diagnosed with MS and my world was turned upside down. I'm raising money to fund research for treatments and a cure. It's my mission to bring awareness to the disease and treatments so that newly diagnosed patients know they aren't alone. It's a battle we fight everyday, but with your support we can break free from the prison that is MS.TriCalifornia's SF Triathlon at Alcatraz is only one week away, I wish the finish line was the actual finish line for my disease. I wish the challenge were that if I could make it to that finish then that would be it. I would be finished with MS and I could put that chapter of my life to rest. But it isn't. It's the rest of my life. MS or multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks the nervous system. Nerves are like electrical cords sending impulses to and from the brain and muscles all over the body. When the immune system attacks these electrical cords the rubber coating around the wires (myelin sheath) is distorted. When the attack is over the myelin sheath can be repaired but if the wire (nerve) underneath is damaged, that damage is permanent. When the immune system will attack, where, and for how long are all unknowns until it's happening. One year ago I was diagnosed after my immune system attacked in such a way that my legs started going numb, then my abdomen, arms, hands, face. After a few months (about 12 weeks) when the attach stopped, feeling returned to all of me except my legs when my body temperature rises and I get tired quickly especially if it's hot out. I have over 20 lesions in my brain and a few in my spine. The doctor tells me its permanent damage. I get treatment once a month in the form of an infusion (basically an ivy on a pump) that delivers a chemical mute to prevent another attack. It's billed as chemotherapy. I hate that. I don't have cancer but it is a chemical and I get sick from it and really tired for a few days after. Even so the risk of not doing it is enough to warrant the treatment. Statistically, I am considered a moderate onset. Last summer I was terrified. I didn't understand what was happening to my body and the words multiple sclerosis were nearly foreign to me. After a few months of trying to wrap my head around it and bugging the heck out of my doctor, I started running again. It's not the same; it's an entirely new sport. Imagine if you couldn't really feel your foot strike the ground. If your legs had fallen asleep while you were running. You could feel their weight but your control and balance were all but gone. It takes so much more energy just to stay upright especially once my body temperature goes up. The doctors assure me I'm not making it worse by running and there's no danger as long as I can avoid falling. So I keep running. I run to feel normal. To hold on to part of me. To escape fear. To prove will can trump any obstacle. To send a message to people like me that we can. This doesn't have to stop us. When I was diagnosed it was as if someone handed me a timer and I could hear the tick tock of my mobility wasting away. When I'm running the clock is quiet. In the beginning, I didn't know of any other MS patients that could run and even now I've only heard of a select few. This is the motivation for me to complete this grueling triathlon. Like living with MS...it will not be easy. The swim will be cold, choppy with strong currents, the hilly bike leg will be challenging, and the "battery to bluffs" run course will be excruciating! I want other new MS patients to know they still can conquer life. I'm raising funds for research into a cure and better treatments that can reverse the damage, not just prevent more. I run with the hope that one day we will cross the BIG finish line and we all can break free from MS.Share|