MS Ambassador

It took me a long time to accept that I had MS. I didn't want to share with many people, in fear that I would be treated differently. I had already spent over a year feeling like an outcast. I didn't want that to continue, so I tried my hardest to act "normal" at school, church, and any other social gathering. I continued to miss school due to fatigue and other MS symptoms, and struggled to create friendships. That spring, a staff member at the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National MS Society contacted me and asked if I would like to be the MS 150 Ambassador! Of course, I saw this as a great opportunity, but I also knew that meant people would find out that I have MS. I anxiously said yes, and within weeks, had a video created to promote Walk MS. 

On the first Friday of March, I received the video over email. My high school had its all school gathering that afternoon, where I had planned to make an announcement asking people to join my team; but my plan changed at the last minute. The leadership team asked me if I wanted to show the video. At first I said no, but a minute before I went on stage, I said yes. The video played, and the school was silent. Following the video, I went on stage and said to my peers, "I am not asking for your sympathy, I am asking for your support." The entire school now knew I had MS.
(Click the link to view the Walk MS Video)

After school that day, I sold "monkey pins" as a fundraiser for Walk MS. Although I was selling them for $1, students were handing me $20 bills as a donation. Some students just wanted to shake my hand. I was amazed at their reaction! For months I dreaded the day when my friends would know I have MS. I was afraid I would be treated differently. But, instead, I was finally treated normal. Others understood why I continued to miss school and accepted of that.

Sharing my story was one of the best things I had done. A few weeks later, my mom received a phone call from the MS Society asking if I would do an interview with Channel 4, WCCO an hour later...eek! My whole family met at home (in the middle of the school day), just in time to clean the living room to prepare for the interview. My dad and I were interviewed while walking around the neighborhood, in an effort to promote Walk MS.

(Click the link to watch the WCCO Interview)

In the following weeks, I also had interviews with Fox 9, Shoreview Press, a Duluth radio station, and the Duluth News Tribune.

With each interview, I felt more and more inspired and excited about sharing my story. The reactions I saw on people's faces when I shared my story made me want to share more. The typical diagnosis age for MS is 20-50 years old, and I was 15.  At that point, I knew I wanted to continue to spread awareness for the MS Society, and continue to share the story of my diagnosis journey. I wanted to, and still want to put and end to MS.