Orange is the new black via the #Orange4MSF campaign

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness month kicks off on March 1 and there is no shortage of awareness campaigns out there. The first one that caught my eye is the #Orange4MSF campaign which invites everyone to take a selfie with an orange. Why an orange? Orange is the official color of Multiple Sclerosis awareness and we’re really amped to make orange the new pink, the new black.

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF) launched this fun effort and its main mission is to spread the word about Multiple Sclerosis, educating the public and building hope for those living with this often debilitating and complicated neurological disease.  We all hope that the campaign goes viral as social media channels explode with this important message.

And, you can help! Show your support by snapping a selfie with an orange and then sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Be sure to use the hashtags #Orange4MSF and #4MSF in your posts. Let’s build hope and let’s educate.

Mine’s coming soon so stay tuned!

Take care and be well,

Christie

For more information, check out these sources:

http://www.news-medical.net/news

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases

7 days of MS Awareness Week – Day 4

"We Write for the Fight"

Extra, extra, read all about it. "Something On Our Minds: An Anthology to benefit the National MS Society" is now available! This is a great book filled with stories written about MSers and those who love us. I've got my copy and it's really good. 

The best part (aside from the wonderful writings of course)? 100% of proceeds will be given to the NMSS. Buy your copy today: Something-Our-Minds-Anthology-Sclerosis. 

Press Release - We Write for the Fight

Hope you are well this MS Awareness Week, take care!

Christie

7 days of MS Awareness Week – Day 3

"Why do you connect?"

Every connection really does count and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) is running a great campaign this week, asking MSers and their loved ones to share connection stories with others. 

Here's my submission: 

So, on this 3rd day of MS Awareness Week, I invite you to think about why connections are important to you and share your story. Simply go the NMSS website here: http://www.msconnection.org/#

Cheers and hope you are well this week.

Best,
Christie

7 days of MS Awareness Week – Day 2

Special Report from Multiple Sclerosis.net

Source: www.multiplesclerosis.net
Report: http://multiplesclerosis.net/special-report-2014-oral-treatments-for-ms/

Our friends over at www.multiplesclerosis.net put together an incredible report, "Special Report: Oral Treatments for MS". It’s based on the recent MS in America 2014 survey completed by over 5,000 respondents.

Two things popped out to me as being pretty significant:

1. Did you know that oral meds are used by nearly a 1/3 of MSers?
2. Did you know that over 50% of people using injectable medications for MS are considering making the big switch to oral meds?

Why not take a few moments to check out their presentation? It's full of good information about the mindset of MSers and the decision to take new oral therapies to treat MS.

Enjoy.

Christie

Click here to read the full report: Oral Treatments for MS

“Special Report: Oral Treatments for MS”, February 28, 2014, from MS in America 2014 survey, www.multiplesclerosis.net

7 days of MS Awareness Week – Day 1

“You’ve got this.”

MS Awareness Week kicks off today and will last through March 9 2014. So, what better way to kick off this important week than with a little video?  As part of a project hosted by Healthline called “You Got This”, I created and submitted a video about the four things I did when first diagnosed. Below is a recap of my chat.

Top 4 things I recommend when newly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis:

1. Gather information. I spent a good part of my early years with MS doing a lot of research. I read books, articles and surfed the web for information. It was important and remains important that I understand how those pesky lesions along my spinal cord will impact my life.
2. Start treatment, promptly. First things first, sign up for a Disease Modifying Therapy (DMT) regimen. I was urged by my neuro to start DMT right away and was on treatment within a month of diagnosis. Slowing down the progression of MS is my main priority.
3. Seek support. This is so important. I sought and still seek the love and support of my loved ones. And, I really appreciate the support from my MS friends, on and off line. Thanks you guys, for making me feel less alone.
4. Do something you love, everyday. There’s something to this. Trying to do something that gives a bit of pleasure really helps me, reminding me that there is more to life than an MS diagnosis and doing something I love takes me away from dwelling on MS stuff. Great advice from a great friend.

The best part of creating the video? Healthline donated $$$s to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) and they are doing this with each video posted on their site. Awesome!

 

If you’d like to make a video yourself, have a look here: You've Got This via Healthline.

How about you? What’s on your list of advice to someone newly diagnosed with MS? What have you learned through the years? Stop by and leave a note.  I would love to hear from you.

Best always & hugs!

Christie

Just Pick a Color

And I picked orange! In honor of MS Awareness Week!

Flash Freeze, Capitol Hill and the Color Orange

What are you doing for MS Awareness Month?

There is a lot happening this month as we bring awareness about life with multiple sclerosis, the complexities of the disease and the hope for a better future via a cure. Folks are doing all kinds of cool things all over the country to elevate awareness. Here are some things that caught my attention.

Orange, orange, orange. Orange is the color of MS and lots of folks will be making flashy statements with their wardrobe, especially next week during MS Awareness Week (March 12-March 18). This is a color that is not readily available in my closet so I may opt to shop for an orange scarf!

Flash Freeze. This is so cool. Organized by our pals in NYC, a flash freeze demonstration will hit the streets of Manhattan on March 13. The team will focus on how MS stops people from moving hence the freeze. Details can be found here: Flash Freeze in NYC!

Feeling Political? Check out the happenings at the 21st Annual National MS Society Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. Our friend Lisa Emrich is live on Capitol Hill reporting on the event. Check out her updates here: http://blog.nationalmssociety.org/

Edible Support. I even came across this great team raising money to benefit the MS Society through sales of delicious cookies. Edible Arrangements in New England is donating a portion of their sales from every Orange Blossom arrangement to the MS Society. And, they deliver! Orange Blossom

And, there’s more. A lot more. I couldn’t possibly list them all.

• The team over at The Multiple Sclerosis Associate of America (MSAA) put together a great list of ways to show support: MSAA

• The National Spinal Cord Injury Association considers every month MS Education and Awareness Month and put together a list of some of their MS stories: National Spinal Cord Injury Association

• The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF) is talking about how Allsup promotes awareness about folks living with MS and how to get SSDI benefits. MSF

So, how about you? What’s happening in your neck of the woods?

Be well,
Christie

MS = never forgetting your sense of humor

It's MS Awareness Week! And, today MS= never forgetting your sense of humor! This was recorded at the breakfast table as we asked our nephew "do you know what MS is?" Click here to hear Gavin's message.


Best,
Christie