As Gavin Giovannoni, MBBCh, PhD, an esteemed British multiple sclerosis (MS) expert, set out for his Saturday morning run on Nov. 7, 2020, the world’s weighty problems swirled through his head. Brexit, a U.S. election, a global pandemic, not to mention the daily struggles of his patients with their degenerative illness.

Multiple sclerosis won’t stop April Hester from going the distance – literally. She and her husband have embraced exercise as an outlet to improve symptoms and quality of life, largely through hiking. After having hiked the Palmetto Trail in South Carolina three times, they now plan to hike the entire Appalachian Trail.

From popular Instagram posts to the cover of People magazine, actress Selma Blair has become the face of multiple sclerosis in America this year. Her public profile emphasizes her glamour, her grit, and something else – a drastic, expensive and potentially dangerous stem-cell treatment that “reboots” the immune system. Now, neurologists are getting questions about the procedure she’s undergoing, and patients are learning that it can have dramatic impact but isn’t appropriate for many patients.

Ann Moore began her Multiple Sclerosis Journey at age 16 as a caregiver for her mother who had been diagnosed with MS.

While in her late 30’s, Lydia awoke with numbness in her tongue. Fearing a stroke, she went to the emergency department.

In Part 2 of our interview, Saray Stancic, MD, discusses her research into the role of nutrition and comorbidities that impact MS symptoms.

In Part 1 of our interview, Dr. Stancic discusses her diagnosis, the progression of her MS, and her realization that lifestyle affected her quality of life.

For the last 20 years, Susan Zurndorfer has grappled with progressive MS. Despite the challenges, she lives a full life and credits her ability to activity, a positive attitude, and collaborative treatment at her MS center.