What do talk show host Montel Williams, dancer Cathy Weis, singer/actress Lena Horne, and R/B singer Tamia all have in common? They all suffer from the physically debilitating disease, multiple sclerosis (MS).
Imagine you're in the kitchen making a drink. You attempt to bring the cup to your mouth, but your hand begins to tingle. You lose feeling in your arm, and the cup falls out of your hand. You may wonder if you're having a heart attack. You go to your doctor and he/she tells you it's MS.
For many it begins exactly like that, but for others there may be the same symptoms, yet to dissimilar levels. The earliest symptom may be numbness in the hands and fingers, followed shortly thereafter by a loss of strength.
Other signs may include a loss of balance, loss of eyesight (to the point of blindness), spasms and/or twitching of the legs (to the point where there is great difficulty in standing), and numbness around the face. These indicators can sometimes occur before an attack.
What is multiple sclerosis? According to the National MS Society, "MS is a disease that breaks down the myelin covering in the central nervous system. Myelin is a substance full of lipids (fatty matter) and proteins, that forms a coating around the nerve strands and works much like padding."
According to the "My Multiple Sclerosis" webpage, "with multiple sclerosis the immune system has become out of all proportion and is attacking the myelin, causing its breakdown. Myelin damage inhibits the correct operation of the nerves and the signals transmitted by each nerve."
According to the The Montel Williams MS Foundation webpage, "MS strikes adults between the age of 20 and 50. Twice as many women develop this disease as men and often among people who live in temperate climates, as well as more commonly among Caucasians than African Americans and Asians."
Scot Phillips, Library Technical Assistant at MCC-Penn Valley, is intimately familiar with the symptoms of MS. His wife, the reason he has become so active with this organization, was diagnosed with MS six years ago.
Phillips said, "MS is very infuriating because it affects everybody differently at different times. Like my wife, most of the time you look at her and you never think she has any problems whatsoever. But then, occasionally, she will have trouble walking or with her balance."
Phillips joined the walk for MS last year in 2007, and at that time personally raised about $300 for MS research. This year he and his team are again walking to raise money for MS.
This year's Kansas City Metro walk will be Saturday, April 12, 2008. "There are actually different walks all over the Metro.... There is one in Overland Park and up north, but the KC-Metro walk is on the 12th," said Philips.
The team's goal this year is to raise $1000 for MS research. "Personally I've raised $175 so far and there are about two weeks left. Our team has raised about $550, so we're a little over halfway there right now."
If you are experiencing any symptoms such as tingling, numbness, blurred vision, muscle weakness or loss of agility, it's very important to see a neurologist for evaluation "because permanent damage can occur even in the earliest stages of the disease." Living with multiple sclerosis can be challenging, but it is not fatal.
To help Phillips raise money for MS research, contact his individual webpage at: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/themeanderer-scotphillips.
Or visist the team webpage at: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/themeanderers.
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