I was working as full-time intern for a medical uniform manufacturer during the hot summer in Dallas. I was getting off for lunch and I sat down inside my hot black car and within seconds a tight, debilitating numbness took over my arms and fingers. I was freaking out because I couldn’t properly function my hands and I had no idea what was going on. I didn’t know what else to do but call my mother, who I knew had MS and dealt with strange sensations before. She advised me to calm down, turn on the air conditioning and start looking for a neurologist in my area.

It took my nearly a month for my initial appointment, but after meeting my new physician I was scheduled for an MRI and a spinal tap for confirmation. In the midst of this, the flare ups were ridiculous. I couldn’t take a warm shower or be outside too long before the numbness and nausea would start to kick in. And once it did, I would be disabled and disappointed for at least 30 minutes to an hour until it went away. I couldn’t wait to make it stop and feel normal. My results came back, written in detail, confirming the findings were of Tumefactive Multiple Sclerosis.

When he told me this, I actually wasn’t very surprised since my mother had it, and hind sight 20/20 I can understand why certain little things were happening to my body that I didn’t quite understand in that moment. I was relieved to know that there was a source to my bothersome short-lived disability and that there were health options available for me. Now,/ I am on Gilenya and living a comfortable and healthy life with barely any symptoms. I maintain this by roller skating and staying active. I picked up roller skating to learn a new skill and challenge my body while I still can and to also maximize my abilities and awareness for MS.