Multiple Sclerosis Awareness month occurs in May in Canada but in the US in March and Internationally on May 30. It’s sort of like how our Thanksgiving is different from the American Thanksgiving.
I’d love to hear from bloggers outside of Canada and the US if you have a Multiple Sclerosis Month.
Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the central nervous system that can cause symptoms throughout the body ranging from difficulty walking to bladder dysfunction to changes in memory and thinking abilities.
MS attacks parts of a person’s brain and spinal cord. Typical symptoms are extreme fatigue, visual and sensory problems, disequilibrium. Eventually, loss of muscle control leads to paralysis. Besides providing a bullet point explanation of the disease the site gives loads of information on research currently being on the disease. It’s fascinating on what is being done from drugs to prevent relapse, to repairing nerve cells damaged by MS.
For more on MS visit mscanada.ca (make sure you scroll down and head to their new homepage.)
In my novel, Not by Design, Felicity Starr is dumped by the man she is about to marry when he learns of her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis. Felicity finds her life thrust into unexpected turns. As she confronts the on-going challenges presented by her disease, she gains the strength to let go of old beliefs and face her inner truths. Love, friendship and rewarding work come in different forms and Felicity finds it all in ways she never imagined – in a life that’s not by design.
I realize that my knowledge of the disease is scant and that I’ve portrayed just a very small part of what it is like to be diagnosed with MS. If my perception of MS leans towards optimism it is only because the young men and women I met inflicted with MS showed courage, strength and optimism themselves in living with MS.
I hope that my novel raises awareness of multiple sclerosis and would love to hear from people who suffer from MS.
Visit my author central page
Carol Balawyder 
Thank you for sharing this, Carol. I don’t have MS myself, but I know someone who does. It’s so helpful to have honest explorations of MS both in fiction and in non-fiction.
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I have had a couple of friends with MS, it’s a tough disease to deal with. And it seems to affect each person differently. Good for you to have an MC with MS..
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Thanks for sharing this idea . I saw one of my friends and has MS too.. Anita
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A challenging disease indeed and to have it when you are young throwing potential careers and relationships into question is so hard.
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I applaud you for bringing attention to this chronic neurological disorder that’s so devastating to individuals and their families.
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So awful for so many. Good post, Carol.
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At one time my daughters thought I had MS but I don’t I have, Parkinson’s which sucks,
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Sorry to hear that about Parkinson’s. ❤
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I have a good friend with this challenging disease, and more awareness is needed I agree. Thanks Carol 🙏🏻🧡
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Lovely post, Carol – I don’t have anyone close to me with MS, but I know it’s a terrible disease.
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Thanks for spreading the awareness Carol. And I enjoyed your book and just finished your newest. I loved it! Will get a review together this week. ❤
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You are so sweet, Debby. Thank you so much for your support. It means a lot to me. ❤
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Hugs ❤
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Hi Carol, I knew a woman who lived with MS for 25 years. She was paralyzed from the neck down, but she had her mind and she had her faith. She passed away last year and was an amazing woman who always saw the silver lining. Your book sounds like another page-turner. I’ll have to check it out. 💞
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