Cindy Richman, MSAA’s Senior Director of Patient and Healthcare Relations, was recently featured on K-LOVE Radio as a part of the Closer Look segment that the station produces. If you missed Cindy’s interview you can hear it here:
https://soundcloud.com/emf-public-affairs-audio/closer-look-klove-wkvp-3-10-13
We have received many wonderful submissions from across the country and are delighted to share their work and their stories with you. Please visit our online gallery to view all of the submissions.
April 2013 Artist of the Month: Susan C. Russo – Pearland, TX
“I have been interested in art since I was a child. I love the creative process. I just close my eyes and let my thoughts come to life. I feel that my work is an expression of God’s love and His gift to me. It would be a great injustice not to share the talent He has given me.
Additionally, art is a beautiful expression of not letting my MS gets the best of me. On days when I don’t feel all that well, I just pick up a brush or pastel and express my feelings in my paintings and drawings…”
Read more from Susan…
MSAA is excited to be teaming up with Modify watches as their Together Partner for the month of April.
Modify will be donating $20 to MSAA for EVERY Together Watch sold during April (even for members of our Mod of the Month Club who are receiving a 20% discount). If you would like to purchase a Together Watch to support MSAA visit Modify’s Non-Profit Collection.
Support MSAA today with the
Modify Together watch!
Tecfidera Approved for the Long-Term Treatment of MS
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has approved Tecfidera™ (dimethyl fumarate or DMF, formerly known as BG-12) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). This is the 10th drug to be approved as a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for the long-term treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Tecfidera is administered orally (by mouth) and is the third oral DMT approved for MS.
As with all of the approved DMTs for MS, Tecfidera is not a cure, but does slow MS disease activity. It reduces the number and severity of MS relapses (or symptom flare-ups) while reducing disease activity as seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans — by reducing the number and size of brain lesions (areas of inflammation). Additionally, Tecfidera slowed the progression of sustained disability (in one of two large Phase III trials).
Please see MSAA’s online news article for more information!
MSAA’s MS Research Update is a comprehensive overview of research findings on the FDA-approved disease-modifying therapies, as well as many experimental treatments.
This 2013 edition of MSAA’s MS Research Update is the first to be printed as a stand-alone issue, reflecting the diversity and scope of research progress in MS. This information is based on a wide range of sources, including the extensive journal literature on MS and its management, a review of ongoing clinical trials, and papers presented at major national and international conferences.
Read MSAA’s latest MS Research Update.
On Monday, March 11, 2013, MSAA’s Senior Director of Patient and Healthcare Relations Cindy Richman was interviewed by SecureACure4MS. During the interview, Cindy discusses MSAA’s programs and services, as well as the ways you can support MSAA.
You can hear Cindy’s interview by visiting this link.
March is not only recognized as MS Awareness Month but is also celebrated as Women’s History Month. MSAA would like to thank and honor all of the women who have contributed to the advancement of medical and scientific research.
Female scientists, although sometimes lesser known, have contributed much in the past to initiate innovations in the medical field and advance research efforts. The following article (not published by the MSAA) celebrates female scientific innovators: http://smithsonianscience.org/2013/03/five-pioneering-female-scientists-youve-probably-never-heard-of/.
MSAA would particularly like to honor all of those women who historically have worked and currently are working toward advancing research initiatives for MS.
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As we say goodbye to the shortest month of the year some parts of the country will begin to transition seasons. In particular parts of the country, it actually starts warming up to give milder spring like temperatures. While spring is considered a temperate and pleasant time by most, in some areas there may even be a few uncomfortably warm days.
This year, prepare early and get your cooling vest before those too warm (or in the summer, downright HOT) days arrive! MSAA offers a program which provides free cooling vests and accessories to eligible individuals. Now is the perfect time to contact MSAA before the busy cooling season begins.You can learn more about how to apply for cooling at the following link: https://mymsaa.org/msaa-help/cooling/.
Presenting MSAA’s Artist of the Month for February 2013
MSAA is very proud to present our Art Showcase – celebrating the work of artists affected by MS.
February Artist of the Month:
Mary E. Hetzel-Tingler – Hixson, TN
“I was diagnosed with RRMS on Valentine’s Day 2006. I have been an artist nearly my entire life and this was quite a blow to be dealt, to not be able to create again. I started spending time daydreaming about the paintings I would do, and something magical happened. I started to visualize concepts, instead of just copying pictures or sitting outside and painting nature, or doing portraits like I did in the past. Even though I couldn’t paint them, I envisioned and captured the feelings and remembered them.
As I got more function back I did the first painting called ”Pitiful Joy” 2006. It was the first painting I did completely from my head, representing my loss of vision and speech, yet a mind alight with music, sculpture and art.”
