MSWalk

Today I participated in one of many nationwide MSWalks, raising money for Multiple Sclerosis research, support, and awareness. My eldest daughter was diagnosed (as much as anyone can be) with MS in November of 2005, and we have since been searching for acceptable alternative treatments and trying to come to terms with the fact that this degenerative and currently unstoppable disease is allowing her body to attack itself at its very core. This is something that over 200,000 American families have to come to terms with every single year. The caveat mentioned above is due to the fact that there is no way to definitively diagnose Multiple Sclerosis (though researchers believe they have finally isolated the gene)... all medical professionals can do is try to discern what is not causing the symptoms. Once the other possible diagnostic impressions are eliminated, often all the neurologists are left with is MS. People with MS are very low in two certain types of regulatory T-cells (or are missing them altogether). The regulatory T-cells in question are responsible for keeping the "killer T-cells" (the one which fight disease) from killing the body that houses them. Ironic, yes?

My daughter raised of a team of 85 people and together we raised over $9000 for this event. The event itself raised over $2 million dollars. As researchers believe themselves to be very close to a cure for MS, the money that continues to roll in is heartening, as it is predicted that a cure (or a viable treatment that isn't as degenerative as the disease itself) will be discovered during this generation.

I was proud to be there. I was proud to be a part of it. Mostly, I am proud of my daughter, who refuses to believe that she can be conquered that easily. She also refuses to partake of the standard treatment for MS patients, choosing instead to completely rework her diet into a daily regime that is as demanding as training for a marathon. She terrifies me, but thrills me too: if anyone can beat this, it's her.