Cool, crisp, and effortlessly refreshing, sparkling cucumber mint lemonade is the perfect sip to celebrate Memorial Day. As the unofficial start of summer, this holiday calls for light, hydrating drinks that can be enjoyed in the sunshine—and this one delivers with a burst of citrus, cooling cucumber, and garden-fresh mint. It’s a family-friendly crowd-pleaser, making it an ideal addition to any backyard cookout or picnic gathering.
By Bonnie Lynn Ellison
May is a good time to reflect on myself, and what my younger self would be proud of. When I was young, I thought life was a rodeo! I competed in the National Little Britches Rodeo from 8 to 18 years old, and was proud of my ribbons, buckles, and trophies! I learned, if you got thrown off, you got back on the horse!
When I was young, I also played my guitar and sang in talent shows, from 7th grade through high school. In college, I performed with the FAB Company. We toured nationally in the early 1970’s, recorded four albums, and were contracted with the major international talent agency, William Morris. I’m proud that we wrote our own original music, songs, and comedy. We did concerts! I thought I was Taylor Swift!
I fell in love, got married, and two years later, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I was 25. It affected me like a stroke, on the right side of my body. I had never heard of this disease, so it was like an old rodeo injury to me. It took about three years to recover enough to write, sing, and perform again. And there were no assurances that it wouldn’t return. I had always been athletic and healthy. It was shocking for me, and a struggle.
Continue readingBy Nana Opong-Owusu
They say the habits, values, and choices we’ve planted in our past, shape the garden we stand in today — the decisions we’ve made, the habits we’ve formed, the passions we’ve nurtured, and the values we’ve carried quietly in our hearts. I didn’t appreciate these types of thoughts as a child, but as an adult I oftentimes find myself reflecting.
Growing up, I was always drawn to movement. Sports weren’t just a hobby — they were a way of life. Whether it was the freedom associated with biking around the city with my childhood friends, the camaraderie of my basketball teams, or the adrenaline of soccer tournaments, exercise and movement have always grounded me. Now as an adult, I see it gave me structure, perseverance, and most importantly, a familiarity with pushing through adversity. But alongside that physical drive, I’ve always carried something else: a caring heart. A giving heart.
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If I could sit across from my 13-year-old-self right now, I think she’d stare at me wide eyed, somewhere between disbelief and admiration. Not because I’ve “figured it all out,” which I most certainly haven’t, but because I’ve kept and continue to keep going, even when I don’t know how.
I was 13 when I was diagnosed with Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome, an extremely rare autoimmune disorder that even many healthcare professionals to this day are confused by. At an age when most kids were worried about what to wear to school or how to pass their next quiz, I was learning how to pronounce the name of my condition and what it meant to live in a body that didn’t always feel like my own. There were many hospital visits and medications accompanied by a laundry list of side effects, and a lifelong experience of learning how to advocate for myself in a room full of doctors that barely know what’s going on in your body. That girl – the one with the IV in her arm and hope in her heart – she had no idea how strong she really was. But she kept going anyway. And I kept going too.
Continue readingAs an anxious child, I often felt the need to plan for every worst-case scenario or consequence, not only for myself, but for the actions of those around me. The best way I could describe it was as having thoughts and feelings that were constantly at 0 or 100, with no other level in between.
Another symptom of this was something I think a lot of people can relate to- a massive need for “people pleasing.” I think there is a misconception among us people pleasers that the only alternative to making everyone happy is to be outwardly rude or antagonistic. Sometimes, it feels like those are the only two options.
Continue reading“How are you?” is a standard greeting among friends and acquaintances. It can be a societal expectation or norm. Answering when living with a chronic disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) is anything but simple. Those with MS are rarely the standard answer of “fine.”
MultipleSclerosis.net published an article about navigating the “How are you” question with MS. The article resonated with many members, and it generated a number of comments! Here are some community insights.
Continue readingBy Samuel Fitch
This is my first blog post—so I’m hoping readers will extend a little grace. I’m 44 years old at the time of writing, and lately I’ve been reflecting on the last two decades of my life. One question keeps coming to mind: Would my 24-year-old self be proud of the man I’ve become and the career I’ve chosen?
At 24, I was newly married—Jessica and I had tied the knot in 2003. We were less than a year into marriage, expecting our first child, and I was working full-time at my family’s restaurant. We hadn’t bought our first home yet, but I was riding high on love, youth, and big dreams. At the same time, I was still dealing with some self-destructive habits—drinking, gambling—trying to figure out who I wanted to be as an adult.
Fast forward twenty years, and life has taken some sharp, unexpected turns. Jessica and I have grown stronger together. We’re now parents to four incredible children—three daughters and our youngest, a son. But that early vision I had for my career didn’t quite pan out the way I imagined.
Continue readingMSAA features the work of many talented artists affected by multiple sclerosis as part of our annual MSAA Art Showcase. Each month we share these artists’ inspiring stories and beautiful artwork with you as our Artist of the Month. This month, we celebrate Eileen Dillon as May’s Artist of the Month. Eileen is from Castle Rock, CO
“Our First Date”
Continue readingFeaturing Barry A. Hendin, MD
MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer
Question: How do tremors with MS differ and what types of treatments help?
Answer: Dizziness and vertigo are common in the general population and even more common in people with MS. More than half of people with MS will experience dizziness or vertigo at some point.
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Mi parte favorita de la primavera es el recordatorio de que siempre es posible un nuevo comienzo. Al igual que la naturaleza se transforma con esta nueva estación del año, nosotros también tenemos la oportunidad de florecer junto a nuestro entorno. Esta primavera, he decidido empezar a explorar un pasatiempo nuevo: la jardinería.
Seré sincera, nunca he tenido talento para la jardinería. Todas las plantas que traigo a casa acaban perdiendo su brillo y casi todas las flores que planto no brotan. Esta temporada, quiero darme la oportunidad de aprender los principios básicos de la jardinería.
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