Feature Friday- Why I'm So Passionate About Running for MS Run The US

Happy happy Friday! I hope everyone has some fantastic weekend plans coming up. I'm not exactly sure what we'll be doing yet, but we have talked about going skiing so maybe that will happen! I also have a 10 mile run and 1 mile run to get done, hoping to also do my 10-miler on the trails, but they're starting to get pretty snow packed so we will see. 

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I was writing a short write-up of my story and why I'm so passionate about being able to run for MS Run The US and really wanted to share it with all of you! I've definitely touched on a few of these topics before, but never really expanded upon it. SO, here it goes. 

About my grandfather:

My grandfather worked at Saw Mills his entire life and retired from Bailey Manufacturing in 2001. I always remember visiting him at work and the smell of fresh-cut wood (still reminds me of him to this day)! I can hardly remember a time where he was sitting down (unless there was a tool in his hand), as he loved to work on his ample collection of Chevy trucks and Model "A" Fords. He was an extremely hard-worker and loved to spend time with our family. His hard work ethic is something that I have tried to mirror and can definitely attribute some of my stubbornness to him!

He would give anything to help others, which I hope to carry on his caring nature. I was still very young (~10 yrs old) when he was being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, but I remember that he began to move slower and would have to spend more time sitting (very unusual for him). Our entire family looked up to him for advice and as a role model so it was difficult to see someone you love not being able to do everything they wanted to do. As the disease progressed, he transitioned into a wheelchair and eventually to the Fryeburg Health Care because we could no longer care for him, but his fight, love, and positive spirit never waned. I was always amazed to see how strong and resilient he was (even in the darkest moments of his MS).

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Why I decided to run:

Because the route of the relay, I had known about MS Run The US for a few years (it passes through where I currently reside-Steamboat Springs) and looked into the application process a few times, but had always missed it (the application process starts in August, but the relay does not begin until April).

I remember marking on the calendar this year when the applications opened and it just so happened to open a week after my grandfather's passing. There was a bit of hesitation from me questioning whether I could tackle the 175 mile run over 6 days and fundraise the $10,000, but the timing and being able to honor my grandfather really pushed me to apply and ultimately accept.

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How will I be able to push myself during tough times (either in training or during the race)?

I know that I will encounter many challenges throughout my training cycle and during my race, but when you see someone that you love suffer through a horribly debilitating disease like MS, it really makes your suffering seem insignificant. If he could approach each day with a smile, then that is my goal for this entire journey. He is, after all, the reason why I began running and continue to remain active today in memory of those who cannot. 

More of this story will be posted up on the Bridgton News and I'll be sure to link to that once it has been posted!

Have a wonderful weekend friends! I hope you get in some miles, hot cocoa, and time spent doing something you love with someone you love. 

xo,

Stacy

Weekend plans- what are you up to?!?

How do you push yourself when training or racing becomes tough? 

Saturday Special-Diagnosing MS

Since there is currently no simple test or symptom to give doctors the indicator that someone has Multiple Sclerosis, a multitude of tests and exams are done to come to the MS diagnosis. 

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Tests used to determine if symptoms are MS (source):

  • careful medical history
  • neurology exam
  • Various other tests including:
    • MRI
    • Evoked Potentials (EP)
    • Spinal Fluid Analysis

For a doctor to diagnose it as MS, they need to have the following:

  • Find evidence of damage in 2 or more areas of the central nervous system (CNS). Damage needs to done to separate areas of the brain, spinal cord, and/or optic nerves AND
  • Find evidence that the damage occurred AT LEAST one month apart AND
  • Rule out any other possibilities
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I remember when my Grandfather was first going through diagnosis of his symptoms, he was constantly traveling to the doctors office (I was around 10 or 11 at the time). I can't even begin to imagine how stressful it is to be bouncing from doctors office to tests to more imaging, also how burdensome it is on family/friends to help you get from appointment to appointment. 

This is why I believe further research can help us find a CURE for MS and why I am so passionate about running 173 miles over 6 days to help us END MS. Don't forget to also check back on my post about Giving Tuesday, where you can DOUBLE YOUR DONATION and my MS Run The US page which details my journey and story behind accepting my Segment 7 invitation. 

It is amazing to me there is definitely a link between where you live and the prevalence of MS:

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Feature Friday- Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

2 posts in one day!?! How could you ever be sooo lucky?! While I'm off at the Rock 'n Roll Las Vegas Expo drooling over all the latest running gear, gadgets, and shoes I wanted to share with you a few possible symptoms of MS! 

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One thing that really strikes me about these symptoms of MS is how easily they can be mistaken for symptoms of other potential autoimmune diseases. From the research that I've done, it really seems like it could take months or even YEARS to diagnose some who has MS because doctors rule out other diagnoses before coming to the conclusion that it is multiple sclerosis. I cannot even imagine being in the position where you are in pain and there is not a similar test to tell you whether or not it is MS. 

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Because no two cases of MS are alike, doctors can only classify symptoms as either being 'more common' or 'less common', according to the information posted on National MS Society.

More Common Symptoms include:

  • Fatique
  • Walking difficulties
  • Numbness/tingling
  • Spasticity
  • Weakness
  • Vision Problems
  • Dizziness or vertigo
  • Bladder problems
  • Bowel problems
  • Sexual problems
  • Pain
  • Cognitive changes
  • Emotional Changes
  • Depression

Less Common Symptoms:

  • Speech Problems
  • Swallowing Problems
  • Tremor
  • Seizure
  • Breathing Problems
  • Itching
  • Headache
  • Hearing Loss

While reading through these symptoms, they can definitely resonate with me in regards to what my grandfather suffered from. He had so many of these symptoms including walking difficulties, speech problems, tremors, depression, numbness, pain, and bladder problems. 

Also while going through this list, it brings about so many symptoms that I feel like anyone can have ANY DAY. That is why this disease is so scary to me because if the awareness for MS is not well-known, then I can only imagine how many others are suffering with the disease without even knowing about it. This is why I am so grateful to be given the chance to run with MS Run The US and raise AWARENESS of the disease while our relay runs across America. 

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