I guess I can chime in with my own "winning" story here. My first MS symptoms came on in 1999-2000, numbness from the waist down, it was a really weird sensation. Wearing shoes and jeans was very, very uncomfortable. I had an MRI that showed some "swelling" in my spinal cord or at least that is what I remember the Dr. telling me. I also remember the Dr. calling me into his office and opening a medical book to the section on MS. He closed the book and said that I could possibly have MS. I took the steroids as directed and slowly things returned to normal and as I didn't know anything about MS, I thought that the "swelling" in my spinal cord must have went down and I was back to normal.
In 2001 I was feeling like my old self and applied for and was selected to go to Aviano, Italy to do some environmental work for the US military. I stayed for 5 1/2 years and my family and I had the time of our lives.
Shortly after returning to the US, I started to once again have some weird symptoms. The left side of my body did not work right, I would double type letters with my left hand my left arm would not go where I wanted it to go and my left leg did not want to work right. A new MRI and a look at the 2000 MRI and the Neuro did not hesitate, I was officially diagnosed with MS.
As I only had an Associates degree, most of the work I was doing was physical, out in the field working with equipment and I am a painter by trade, more physical work. After researching MS more, I knew that I needed to do something to prepare for a different type of work so I went back to school in 2007 in my late 40's and in 2009, I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology which would give me more opportunities to work with my brain instead of my body or so I hoped.
As soon as I graduated, I applied for and was selected for a position overseeing cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater at a large military base. I love my job as it is very rewarding and is work that I believe I can do for many years to come. In 2010, I was even asked to speak to a large audience of environmental scientists to tell them about the changes I had instituted when I took over the program I was managing. Speaking to these professionals was the highlight of my career so far and to hear the moderator introduce me to the audience with my newly received Bachelor's degree tacked on to my name is something I'll never forget!
In 2001 I was feeling like my old self and applied for and was selected to go to Aviano, Italy to do some environmental work for the US military. I stayed for 5 1/2 years and my family and I had the time of our lives.
Shortly after returning to the US, I started to once again have some weird symptoms. The left side of my body did not work right, I would double type letters with my left hand my left arm would not go where I wanted it to go and my left leg did not want to work right. A new MRI and a look at the 2000 MRI and the Neuro did not hesitate, I was officially diagnosed with MS.
As I only had an Associates degree, most of the work I was doing was physical, out in the field working with equipment and I am a painter by trade, more physical work. After researching MS more, I knew that I needed to do something to prepare for a different type of work so I went back to school in 2007 in my late 40's and in 2009, I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology which would give me more opportunities to work with my brain instead of my body or so I hoped.
As soon as I graduated, I applied for and was selected for a position overseeing cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater at a large military base. I love my job as it is very rewarding and is work that I believe I can do for many years to come. In 2010, I was even asked to speak to a large audience of environmental scientists to tell them about the changes I had instituted when I took over the program I was managing. Speaking to these professionals was the highlight of my career so far and to hear the moderator introduce me to the audience with my newly received Bachelor's degree tacked on to my name is something I'll never forget!
Comment