Wrapping Up

Posted on December 22, 2025 by Teena Palathanam

2025 has been a memorable year. As the year sped by, it is worth reflecting and remembering both the good and the bad moments. It gives me an opportunity to assess the flaws on my side and a chance to examine the areas I can possibly improve for the next year. Looking back, it was a year filled with interesting experiences and valuable life lessons.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve been reminded of this year is the importance of holding onto hope, even when everything around me feels overwhelming. Hope means moving forward one step at a time, celebrating small victories, and embracing setbacks as part of the journey toward the life you envision and the goals you want to achieve. It is a calm assurance that, no matter how bleak things may seem at times, there is always light waiting at the end of the tunnel.

Looking back on this year, I am grateful for the opportunities I got to learn and grow personally as well as professionally. I am grateful for the family that stands by me and appreciative of friends that value our connection. I have come to accept the fact that life is most fulfilling when it is welcomed with open arms, irrespective of the countless obstacles along the way. As I navigate this journey, it continues to be unpredictable and exhilarating at the same time. Here’s to moving onward and forward!

Highlighting the MS Community This Holiday Season and Always

Posted on December 19, 2025 by MSAA

As we approach the season of giving, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) would like to bring special attention to the many wonderful community members that we serve. With our mission of Improving Lives Today, MSAA genuinely strives to advocate for and prioritize the well-being of all individuals who have been affected by multiple sclerosis. Over the years, we have collaborated with so many inspiring people, and we are honored to be able to highlight their stories.

In the spirit of the holiday season, we would like to share the heartfelt story of mother and son, Monica and Brian, who both live with multiple sclerosis.

“I’ve learned that in any situation, if you are not advocating for yourself, you’re not going to get anything. My name is Monica Proctor Wilson, and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on my 40th birthday after spending several years seeking answers to my symptoms. For four or five years, doctors kept saying that it was fatigue, and that I was overworked and needed to take a break. I believed it was multiple sclerosis, and I started asking about it. People would ask me, ‘Why would you want MS?’ I did not want MS. I just wanted to know what was going on with me,” Monica shared.

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Holiday Rice Krispie Treats

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Melissa Young

This easy and festive recipe for classic Holiday Rice Krispie Treats is a crowd pleaser. You can add fun toppings such as red and green M&Ms and holiday sprinkles or any additional toppings you might like.

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Don’t Miss the Deadline for MSAA’s 2026 Art Showcase!

Posted on December 8, 2025 by MSAA

Every year, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) highlights the artistic talents of the MS community in our award-winning virtual Art Showcase. We have received many wonderful submissions from individuals with MS across the country and are delighted to invite the community to participate once again in MSAA’s 2026-2027 Art Showcase.

Now until January 9, 2026, individuals with MS are encouraged to submit up to three works of visual art along with their personal stories to be highlighted in MSAA’s 2026-2027 Art Showcase. We welcome various types of art including paintings, drawings, photography, and more. To participate, please visit MSAA’s Call for Submissions webpage, or email us at showcase@mymsaa.org.

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Sweet Dreams

Posted on November 24, 2025 by Teena Palathanam

Proper sleep is a quintessential part of functioning optimally. The average adult needs at least 7-8 hours of proper sleep. A loss of sleep can interfere with an individual’s ability to function at their full capacity, as it can lead to issues like confusion, irritability, exhaustion, and lack of energy. An individual with MS may often have issues with sleeping soundly. In addition to the general discomfort that they commonly experience, sleep disturbances can create havoc in a person’s body who has this condition.

Here are some tips to keep in mind that might help you get more shuteye when you hit the bed:

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Holiday Wellness Bingo Card

Posted on November 19, 2025 by MSAA

By Stacie Prada

Each year, the holiday season is a time of increased tasks, deadlines, and obligations. It can be stressful doing everything I need and want to do. Add managing my health issues with multiple sclerosis, and it can get overwhelming. I’d love it if the satisfaction of nurturing my health and sanity was enough to maintain healthy habits as its own reward, but it hasn’t been. Temptation abounds, and denying myself can feel punishing at times. I strive to enjoy both in healthy doses.

Over the years, I’ve trimmed down and streamlined seasonal tasks to reduce effort and stress. This year, I want to infuse fun with a Bingo card. By choosing items that support my personal goals and having a deadline to complete them, I’ll be more likely to do them.

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Recharge, Reset, Restore: The Power of Restful Sleep

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Claudia Chavez

As the days grow shorter and our schedules seem to fill up faster, many of us forget one of the most restorative acts of self-care available to us, a good night’s sleep. While we often think of wellness in terms of nutrition or exercise, sleep is the foundation that supports both our physical health and emotional balance. Sleep isn’t a luxury. It is the foundation that keeps our mind and body thriving.

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Cranberry Orange Relish

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Melissa Young

Thanksgiving tables are full of rich, comforting dishes and this Cranberry Orange Relish brings the perfect balance with its fresh, zesty pop of flavor. It’s a no-cook recipe that celebrates cranberries natural tartness while adding a citrusy lift from fresh orange. This simple dish feels homemade and special but comes together in minutes, leaving you more time to enjoy the holiday (and less time in the kitchen).

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Nourishing Myself in the Cold Season as a First-Time Soon-to-be-Mom

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Diana Cruz-Beniquez

This fall and winter season feel different this time around. The cold air has quickly made its appearance along with the early nights and quiet anticipation in my heart – not just for the busy months ahead, but for the little life that I am growing and nourishing every day. As a first-time soon-to-be mom, I have come to learn that nourishment goes far beyond what is on my plate. It’s about caring for my mind, spiritual well-being, and the support system that is carrying me in this vulnerable yet transformative time.

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Here I Go Again

Posted on November 7, 2025 by MSAA

By Samuel Fitch

Ten years! After about ten years away from the gym, I decided to walk back in the door. In that time, I’ve been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and staying active, but not in the way most people think. My life is full: busy professionally, engaged in the family business, raising four kids, and supporting a wonderful wife. That kind of activity keeps me moving, but at times it carries its own stress.

About a month ago, I felt a strong pull to return to structured exercise, first to safeguard my cardiovascular health and then to gradually reintroduce weight training. Not for huge muscular gain, but to strengthen and preserve what I already have. My mother’s passing at age 65 from a ruptured brain aneurysm after decades of smoking played a major role in that decision. Seeing mortality up close made me realize I want to be here long enough to watch my grandchildren grow, to enjoy years with family and meaningful work.

So each day I’ve headed to the treadmill. Thirty minutes, heart rate up near 150 beats per minute. The result has been therapeutic both mentally and physically. There’s pain in inertia but power in motion.

For my fellow men and women living with MS, I know our journeys differ. Some face greater physical challenges, while others may have more flexibility or energy to work with. My belief is that doing something, even small steps with the ability you have, can still produce a meaningful impact on well-being. Research supports this truth. Studies show that aerobic and resistance exercise improve mobility, reduce fatigue, and enhance quality of life in people living with MS (National Institutes of Health). Even more encouraging, exercise in MS is considered safe and does not worsen disease activity when properly managed (Cleveland Clinic).

If I had known how good I would feel simply by walking on the treadmill three times a week and steadily elevating my heart rate, I might have started sooner. But hindsight is a teacher, and the best time to begin is right now.

So that’s the invitation: whether you’re managing MS or simply navigating the busy demands of life, choose to move. Protect your heart, support your brain, and honor those you’ve loved and lost by caring for the life you still have before you.

Stay strong, inside and out.

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