Medical News!
Dr. Ellison Vermillion
What is MS?
MS stands for Multiple Sclerosis! It affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). They can tell you have MS because there would be a lesions on your brain from damaged nerves. 80% of the people with MS will experience fatigue at one point or another. About 45% of the people with MS are not severely affected by this disease. There are four kinds off MS, relapsing-remitting, secondary-progressive, primary progressive, and progressive relapsing.
Living with MS
I was only 51 days old, when my grandma died from MS. She was only 21 when she was diagnosed. My mom was 1 years old. If she had more children it could trigger to a more extreme level. She had 2 more children, my Aunt Alicia and my Uncle Ron. In 1985-86 she suffered more episodes from the MS. She went back into remission. In 1991, it came back, and this time she needed to be in a wheelchair when she was only 35 years old. The next 12 years were a gradual decline of all physical function. My grandma lost control of her arms, legs, speaking and even blinking had become difficult. MS was diagnosed in my Great-Grandmother and her cousin, also.
What can you do to stop MS
Walk or Race to stop MS. I have done it for many years. I have gone with my family every year since I was 3! It's fun and it is for a good cause. So, things you do are:
- help fight MS by raising money
- have fun
- hang out with your friends and family when you walk
- see and meet strong people who are trying to beat this crippling disease
Facts about MS
- more than 400,000 people in the U.S. have MS
- 2,500,000 have MS around the world
- in countries further from the equator, the incidence of MS is greater
- Diagnosis of MS is between 20-40 years of age
- MS affects twice as many women than men
- MS is not contagious
- there is not a cure
- MS is not heredity
- there are treatments to slow down MS and reduce the symptoms
- MS is detected with an MRI scan
- the chances of you getting MS is 10 times higher if you have a family member who has MS
Does anyone in your family or do you know anyone with MS?
Thanks!
I know having MS is scary or knowing someone with it. I want to thank my Aunt Alicia, Uncle Ron, and my mom for being such amazing people about it! They have lived their lives without a mom since they were in their 20's! Just think how hard that would be! No mom for the rest of your life. Alicia and my mom have helped me make this paper what it is! They answered most of my questions and they are just so amazing! My grandma was a wonderful person, even though I only got to see her once! I miss her so much! I got to see her once when I was a baby. So, I don't remember anything really. My mom has told me so many stories about how wonderful she was. All I can remember is that one picture that I have of her holding me!