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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
I am an active member of both the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I truly believe that one person can make a difference. That is why I am walking, speaking and raising funds for all of those suffering with MS, MS-like Neurological Disorders and Blood Cancers. Why I have chosen these diseases to fight? Multiple Sclerosis This cause is very close to my heart. I have symptoms similar to this disease and have a very good understanding of the suffering and difficulties this disease presents to the victims and their families. Also I have had one of my closest friends diagnosed in the last year. It seems as if everyday, I meet a new person who is affected by this disease indirectly or directly. As a mother with a degenerative illness, I can tell you that MS can have a devastating effect on your friends, family and especially young children. It is a life altering illness and the good people at the National MS Society are working hard to assist those living with the disease. They offer financial assistance, education, programs and research. I am honored and proud to work along side this organization in the fight to find a cure. What is Multiple Sclerosis? Multiple Sclerosis (MS), chronic, unpredictable, and often progressive disease of the central nervous system that attacks and destroys tissues in the brain and spinal cord. There are several forms of MS, but all forms affect nerve function, resulting in problems ranging from mild numbness and difficulty walking to paralysis and blindness. Although MS can occur at almost any age, the disease usually strikes people who are between the ages of 20 and 40. For unknown reasons, MS is more common in Caucasians, women, and people living in temperate, rather than tropical, climates. The International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies estimates that up to 2.5 million people in the world have MS, and according to statistics gathered by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, approximately 250,000 to 350,000 people in the United States have the disease. Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia 2005 © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. My Journey I have been suffering from MS like symptoms for the past year. Some of my symptoms: Loss of vision, numbness and weakness on my left side, difficulty walking, as well as cognitive and memory problems. Depression is a really big symptom of MS and many other chronic illnesses. This is not often discussed. It plays a big role in how MS affects you. It can slow your progress in recovery and like any person suffering from depression; it can leave you in a darkness that you cannot escape from on your own. My Therapy and Recovery So, I decided that I was not going to let this disease define who I was. Even though my diagnosis is not yet definite; I decided to pursue various therapies, seminars and spiritual discovery. I am happy to say that in this pursuit, I was able to form an incredible recovery team. That team includes; a miraculous physical therapist, speech therapist, a wise and loving psychotherapist, psychiatrist, neurologist, acupuncturist and Pilate's instructor. I assembled this team with hard work, luck, faith and perseverance. Through the courage, love and support of these incredible people and my family, I am now able to pursue my vocation of public speaking and share my journey, triumphs and setbacks in living with this disease. Lymphoma One of my dearest friends, Michele, was diagnosed with Lymphoma a year ago. Her spirit, love and joy for life are amazing. Her courage in fighting Lymphoma has changed the lives of all of those who have been touched by her. She has been a great support to me and my family, as we have been fighting our own battle against an aggressive illness. What is Lymphoma? Lymphoma is a group of cancers that arise in the lymphatic system, body tissues that fight infection and perform several other vital functions in the body. Lymphoma is often called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to distinguish it from Hodgkin's disease, a specific type of cancer that also affects the lymphatic system. However, the term non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is somewhat misleading because, unlike Hodgkin's disease, lymphoma encompasses many cancers. These various types of lymphoma differ from each other in symptoms, treatment, and prognosis, depending on the type of cell that becomes cancerous and other characteristics. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2001 more than 56,000 people in the United States developed lymphoma and 26,300 died of the disease. For reasons scientists do not completely understand, the number of people diagnosed with lymphoma has increased more than 80 percent since the early 1970s. The incidence of lymphoma increases with age, and it is slightly more prevalent among men than among women. In the United States, non-Hispanic whites have the highest incidence of lymphoma. Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia 2005 © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Michele's Journey Michele was diagnosed three weeks before the beginning of school last year. She endured Chemo, pain and the loss of her hair, while continuing to teach my daughter and her classmates. It has been amazing to take this journey with Michele. She has carried herself with such grace and suffers with such dignity. Recovery and Remission She has surrounded herself with love and has given so much to the children she teaches. Her family and friends have been so impressed with her endurance, strength and selflessness in battling this cancer. Even through she had her own trials and suffering, she still walked with me in May 2005. She was with me every step of the MS Walk, in order to raise money for those suffering with MS. She has become an inspiration to me and continues to inspire me everyday as she as fights this cancer. I am honored and humbled to call her my friend. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP FIGHT MS AND LYMPHOMA? I am also proud to say that I raised almost $2,400.00 to fight MS for the MS Walk this past May. I was also able to find a corporate sponsor and finally, did a radio interview with Sunny 97.9 Fort Collins, CO. regarding the walk. As a team, a total of 20 friends and family, we were able to raise over $5,000 for the National MS Society at the MS Walk. Please contact the National MS Society at www.nationalmssociety.com to help fight this disease. This is an incredible organization that offers an amazing amount of information about MS, fundraising events and support for those suffering from MS and their families. I have been inspired to become a team captain and am currently training for the LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK on September 30, 2005. We are walking to raise money to fund a cure for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Please Join us! This Society is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, programs and services. Their mission is to "Cure Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and Myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families." Please contact them and sign up to participate in one of the walks or to donate to this very worthy cause. To learn more about this organization and/or to help in finding a cure, go to www.LLS.org. You can make a difference to those suffering with chronic diseases and cancer, just by taking a walk or donating money or time to these wonderful organizations that offer hope to patients and their families. Please help us find a cure!!!! WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO HELP? Upcoming Events: Go to the website to see how you can assist in the fight against MS and participate in one of these events. Every time you donate your time or money to fight MS, you are providing HOPE to find a cure. LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK
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