By Angel Blair
Continue readingIt’s that time of year again— the peak of the summer months is upon us. For those living with MS affected by the heat, staying cool becomes top priority. And for individuals on a budget, summer planning can require some creativity and thinking outside of the box. But there are ways to try and enjoy the season while being cost efficient and budget savvy. It’s about finding what works for you!
By Samuel Fitch
Having fun in the summer does not have to mean spending hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars on a fancy vacation, cruise, amusement park, or long-distance trip. Those things can be wonderful, but they are not the only way to make meaningful summer memories.
Sometimes the best kind of summer is a simple staycation right where you live.
Continue readingBy Dan and Jennifer Digmann
The mid-summer scent of grilled hot dogs hung in the air as the sun started setting and we twisted open another ice-cold beer.
Stadium organ music playing “Charge” faded into the background as our friend Erica asked Dan for another bag of Cracker Jack.
Welcome to an evening on our back deck.
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 Susan Russo as July’s Artist of the Month. Susan is from Pearland, TX.
Featuring Barry A. Hendin, MD
MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer
Question: Many individuals with MS experience bowel issues, most commonly constipation. How may this symptom be addressed through lifestyle and dietary changes?
Answer: Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in people with multiple sclerosis. These can range from upper gastrointestinal symptoms, such as trouble swallowing, abdominal discomfort, and acid reflux, to lower gastrointestinal symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence.
Continue readingBy Stacie Prada
“The reward of a thing well done is having done it.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sure, Ralph. Sometimes, having something done well is enough. It’s a relief to have it off the to-do list. It’s not nagging at me, and I’m not stressing about doing it anymore. But sometimes I still need acknowledgment for my hard work. A quiet nod or smile to myself in recognition: a star or smiley face drawn in my journal.
A lot of living with multiple sclerosis for me is invisible, and the effort it takes to prevent or delay physical decline is huge.
Continue readingBy Samuel Fitch
I have no problem admitting that I enjoy recognition. I also know I can be a shameless self-promoter at times. But when it comes to the MS community, celebration feels different.
For me, celebration is not about pretending the hard days do not exist. It is about recognizing the small victories that often go unnoticed.
Continue readingBy Dr. Eva Jackson
Like many people, I was raised to believe that pride and boasting were wrong. As an adult, however, I am learning that recognizing my accomplishments is not the same as bragging. No matter how big or small the achievement is, I am learning to celebrate doing a good job.
For me, being kind and doing good comes naturally, but I am realizing that it is also important to celebrate myself. Sometimes that means simply giving myself credit, patting myself on the back, or treating myself to something special just for being me. I am learning that self-celebration is not about putting myself above anyone else. It is about acknowledging my efforts and my growth and giving myself permission to feel good about the progress I have made.
Continue readingBy Angel Blair
You are good. You are worthy. You are more than enough. You are you and that is perfect. These are affirmations that everyone deserves to believe and live by. But I myself have always had a difficult time believing in my value as a person and trusting that I am enough and deserving of all that is good in this life. Why is it sometimes easier to judge and ridicule ourselves, rather than celebrate who we are and what we’ve accomplished? Because we’re too hard on ourselves and act as our own worst critics. Because we think we need to be perfect. Nonsense. What we need to do is recognize the wins; the big, the small, and the in-between that’s made us who we are. We need to celebrate us.
Continue readingBy Nicole Robinson
Living with multiple sclerosis has changed the way I look at a lot of things, especially what it means to celebrate myself.
For a long time, I didn’t think of myself as someone who needed to be celebrated. I associated celebration with big milestones, big wins, or moments that everyone could see. But living with a chronic illness has taught me that some of the most meaningful victories are the ones no one else sees.
Continue reading