Walk MS Twin Cities will be at a NEW LOCATION this year! For the last six years we walked around Minnehaha Falls, but this year they are moving it to US Bank Stadium!
Click
HERE to be directed to Susie's Stars team page so that you can donate or join our team and walk with us on Sunday April 30th, 2017!
*Let me know if you would like to purchase a "Susie's Stars" MS Walk shirt. If not just wear ORANGE!*
On Sunday, April 30th, 2017, I will join thousands of others in
a movement to end multiple sclerosis by participating in Walk MS 2017. When you
walk with us or make a gift to the National MS Society, you support research
and local services to those affected with this unpredictable disease.
Every hour someone is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic disease
of the central nervous system for which there is no cure. Multiple
sclerosis interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body and
stops people from moving. Many have trouble imagining what their lives
would be without the ability to move, but I know the effects of MS
personally.
My
symptoms began in December of 2008 with my face itching uncontrollably. I
ruled out allergies to the products I was using on my face as well as food
allergies and just began to live with this itching. In January 2009 I was
driving home from work when suddenly I got an extreme headache. It felt
like someone was stabbing me on my left temple with a hot pitch fork. I
began to cry and had to pull over because I couldn’t stand the pain. I
sat on the shoulder on highway 94 with cars speeding past me, rocking back and
forth and rubbing the left side of my head to try and get it to go away.
I called my husband who was leaving work at that time so he pulled up right
behind me on the freeway. We sat there for a little while and the pain
subsided enough that I was able to drive the rest of the way home with him
behind me to make sure I was OK. The next day I awoke to the left side of
my face being numb. I called my doctor and she suggested that I go directly
to the emergency room. After several tests that evening the ER
doctor’s were thinking I had Multiple Sclerosis, but he could not make an
official diagnosis. He referred me to a neurologist at that point.
Several doctor visits later along with lots of pokes, prods and tests finally
confirmed that I have MS in February, 2009. I was told things would never
be the same for me and I was going to have to find a way to live with this
disease. What! Me? Why?
I was told that research has come a long way over
the years and that people are able to live full lives as long as they take care
of themselves. I made the decision right away to go on a preventative
medication, Copaxone. I was very nervous to start this treatment because
the only way you can take it is to inject it into your body every day.
All I thought about was I have a husband and at the time we just had my son and
I was going to do this to keep myself healthy. I did go off of the
treatment for about one year so we were able to have our daughter, but I have
since gone back on the treatment and had to endure these injections every
single evening.
I visit with my neurologist at the end of every
summer so he can order some blood work and see how I am doing with the
disease. In the fall of 2015 I entered just
like I always do, “So, Doc. . . When can I get off these shots?” I usually get the same response every year,
“They are working right. Let’s not fix
what isn’t broken.” I was getting so
tired of doing the shots everyday and feeling like a pin cousin so I pressed a
little more this time. Then the best
news ever came across his table, I could be switched to every other day shots
and remain on Copaxone. They recently
came out with a longer lasting medicine that only needs to be injected three
times per week. Yes that is right!!! I only need to poke myself 3 times a week
instead of every single day of my life!
Reuben was a little hesitant about switching the medicine up in fear
that I would have a flare up, but I was willing to take the risk. I got started on the new shots within a month
of that visit and I still feel great!
I continue to walk with the hopes of having a cure one day and to be able to go off all medications and injections. This is why I want to raise money for the MS Society.
Overall, MS had not had that big of an effect on
my body. I forget, itch, go numb, drop things, stumble and get dizzy, but
that is few and far between. I have triggers that bring these attacks on
so I have learned to avoid those things.
Susie’s Stars was started in 2011 with a team of 18 walkers and we raised
$1,296.50.
In 2012 we walked again with a team of 64 walkers and raised $4,439.00.
We gathered again in 2013 and had 55 human walkers and 1 dog. Together we raised $6,851.00.
In 2014 we had 50 human walkers and 1 dog. We contributed $2,718.58 all for the MS
Society.
In 2015, we had our biggest team EVER! We has 79 people and 2 dogs walk with us. Our team raised $5,047.29!!
Last year we had 32 people and 4 dogs join us for Walk MS. Together we raised $3,267.00.
As you can see, I have a personal stake in this particular event.
Not only do I want to help find a cure for
myself, but also the other people diagnosed with MS who live in the Upper
Midwest Chapter area.
I know these walks
make a difference because when I was first diagnosed treatment options were so
few.
Now I am able to do shots just
three times a week instead of every day.
This is what the money goes for so maybe, one day I won’t have to do
another shot EVER!
MS is a disease that affects the central nervous system. Some symptoms of MS
may include loss of balance, impaired vision and hearing, fatigue, muscle
weakness and, in some, paralysis. Even simple everyday living skills become
increasingly difficult. Everyone is affected differently by these symptoms.
Click
HERE to be directed to Susie's Stars team page so that you can donate or join our team and walk with us on Sunday April 30th, 2017!
Thank you in advance for your support. Please
call me if you have any questions or comments about Walk MS. I can be reached
at 763-464-3011.
