Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disorder/ disease in the brain. It basically tells your immune system to attack the myelin sheath (or protective covering) of your nerves and causes irreversible nerve damage to your brain and spinal cord. This can, if serious enough, leave your paralyzed. Scary huh?

My mom has had this disease ever since I can remember. I never even thought it was a big deal because my mom has always put on such a brave face for her kids. It was just something that never scared me growing up, especially since she is in remission and she hasn’t had any symptoms of it (besides temporary memory loss here and there) for 15 years. It’s not genetic, but if a parent has it the doctors said it is more likely that you will have it.

Low and behold though, a month after my sister had her baby, she started having leg numbness. At first we thought the doctors may have hit a certain nerve during her epidural, but unfortunately, she has MS; a bad case at that. She has been in the hospital for 2 weeks. At first she was doing steroid therapy, but her headaches from it were so bad and the steroids weren’t working so they had to try something else. Now they are doing a procedure where they take out her blood and take the plasma from it and give her new plasma. Apparently this is very painful and it breaks my heart to see someone so young (only 19) going through this.

I’m sure you’re probably wondering why I’m putting this in a blog that is supposed to be “inspirational.” Well, one thing that I have noticed is that even though my sister has tubes in her and bruising from of all the shots she has been having to get, she is still her normal self. I haven’t seen her cry once, and she even had the chance of being paralyzed in the beginning because her case was so bad. Every time I have visited her she’s been cracking jokes and being her same old goofy self. This really opened my eyes. It almost made me feel guilty. It seems like I am always complaining about something so petty; school, work, homework. I should be greatful that I am healthy. I don’t have a debilitating disease, and even more than that, my sister is getting treatment and will soon be able to leave the hospital. If I was in her shoes, I would have been freaking out. We should be greatful for the time and health that we have.

There is no cure for this disease, but research is ongoing. Next Saturday is the annual MS Walk in Little Rock to promote MS research and raise money for the cause. It not has big as the Relay for Life, but I feel like it should be. I encourage you guys to look into it. My whole family is walking in it and if you want or need more information just let me know. Also, if you know someone who has it, encourage them to go. Walk with them, maybe even start a team. My sister and mom inspire me everyday with their bravery and love.

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/ARR#

My sister and cute little nephew…isn’t he a little stud? 🙂