MS Society of Canada, BC & Yukon Division
Suite 1103- 4720 Kingsway V5H 4N2 Burnaby, BC, Canada

After my MS diagnosis, I wanted to do something empowering. Participating in the MS Walk with family and friends left me feeling hopeful - instead of feeling alone and isolated, I felt truly supported. It was wonderful knowing funds raised were going towards MS research and initiatives to make life brighter for those living with MS. Also, MS Walk provides tangible visibility to a disease that can be largely invisible. This year, I am walking solo. This pandemic has been chal...lenging for so many family members and friends. It’s been difficult to form a team, but I have many quiet supporters! Walking solo may be a bit different, but I’m confident that I can raise money. Many friends are committed to supporting me virtually and with donations. As a proud spectacle of one, my goal is to raise $1,000. Online support is vital. MS can be an isolating disease. Fortunately, there is a vast community of MSers out there in ‘virtual land’. As we continue to navigate this pandemic, online communities have functioned as de facto families. While we may not be able to connect face-to-face, we can foster meaningful connections between our screens. If I could say one thing to all who support MS Walk, it would be thank you. Thank you for finding compassion within your heart to help build a better world for those of us living with MS. Thank you for valuing MS research and initiatives. Thank you for seeing the hope behind the veil of disease. Today, my hope shines brighter than any of my MS challenges. I will keep a little spark of that hope in my back pocket. On tough days, I will bring it out and be reminded of your kindness. --Kathryn, diagnosed in 2017, Abbotsford, BC Although Kathryn will be walking solo at this year’s MS Walk, she’s certain her network will show their support through online donations as they can’t gather like years past. Help keep Kathryn’s spark of hope alive and join her and thousands of others at MS Walk as we move forward, together. Register today: https://bit.ly/2QQky2c

One community made up of tens of thousands of Canadians will walk forward together on May 30 to show that no person living with multiple sclerosis is alone Register for #MSWalk today as we walk toward a world free of MS: https://bit.ly/3rMLlZL.

Thank you to everyone who attended our spring edition of MS Connect! Sessions covered topics like mental health, physical activity, MS in new immigrants, comorbidities, and biomarkers one of the most promising areas of MS research. If you were unable to attend, missed a session, or simply want to watch one of the sessions again, don't worry! All sessions were recorded and are available for viewing here: https://bit.ly/3tIvEUv. #MSConnect will be back November 22-26 to connect you with even more MS research and online content!

It takes a village to help manage a disease like multiple sclerosis (MS). And for those affected by MS, support offered through several avenues is essential to help them along their journey. For Patti, she’s turned her diagnosis into an opportunity to support others, especially women, in the MS community. In 1990, as she’d just started her dream job, Patti was diagnosed with MS. She had dreamt of becoming a physical education teacher for years, and could only manage to teach... in that field until 1995 as her balance, strength and fatigue became relentless with her ensuing MS. After years moving around within different teaching roles, Patti received her PHD in education and decided she would teach those who held her old dream students at Teachers College. After numerous interviews, she was always greeted with the same response, You are amazing, but we’ve gone with someone else. To this day, she believes it could have been because of her limp caused by MS. Just devastated, Patti left teaching altogether. Today, Patti’s found her passion for helping women through her Facebook tribe of MS warriors, Women with MS living FEARLESS, Brave & Bold. Her group has over 270 members from all over the world. I feel like I’m making a difference, and if that’s just creating a safe space for women to engage with other women, it means the world to me, Patti says. Every day of the week, her group discusses a different theme, like letting go or finding your identity. She also goes live in the tribe every Saturday about various MS related topics. Although Patti thrives by helping others better cope with their MS, she still relies on a couple pillars to help assist her too. Paul, her husband, knows when to encourage her and when to tell her to let go. He is her rock. Sue, her long-time friend, is a constant soundboard who she chats with regularly. MS Navigators are another source of support Patti reaches out to for questions she has about MS, and a non-judgemental ear when needed. Patti reminds us that, It’s important to have a support system in place, because talking to yourself in the mirror doesn’t cut it. I’ve found that another set of eyes and another person to hear you and can bring that different perspective is often just what we need. #MSAwarenessMonth #MSConnections

Are you looking to meet new people in the MS community who live in your area? Do you want a safe space to share your lived experiences as someone affected by MS? Join our MS Society of Canada Community Groups in Coastal BC, Interior BC and Northern BC and Yukon Regions today to share stories, learn about local events and initiatives, receive regional updates, and more. Links to the following groups are as follows: ... www.facebook.com/groups/mssocietyofcanadacoastalbc/ www.facebook.com/groups/mssocietyofcanadainteriorbc/ www.facebook.com/groups/mssocietyofcanadanorthernbc/

Q: How has MS affected your dating life? A: Dating is already difficult, but with MS, it’s become a daunting reality. I’ve found myself asking questions like when should I tell them about my MS? or how soon is too soon? You never know how the other person will react. In my opinion, telling them earlier is better. I want to respect their time, so they should know before things get too serious. With or without MS, there is always a fear of being rejected. But if I told some...one about my diagnosis and they responded negatively, I know that they aren’t the person for me. Observing the reactions almost serve as a filter, helping weed out the people who I feel might not grasp compassion or understand my situation. The person I date should be okay with accommodating my needs when I need to take care of myself. I've become a lot more guarded when it comes to meeting new people, but I'm slowly learning to embrace the vulnerability. With many impacted by MS during the formative years of their adult lives, millennials are not alone in the fight against MS. In 2020, millennials with MS are diving into the workforce, starting families, and advancing their education all during the biggest global crisis of the last century. In our latest blog series ‘Millennials and MS’, we sit down with young adults across Canada to discuss topics such as self-care, social media, mental health, and more to hear what they have to say about life with MS. This week, we sat down with Trish Yeung, a 30-year old woman living with MS, who has turned to mindfulness and meditation to support her through her MS journey. Read Trish's story: bit.ly/2UAiHNs

"What do you see here? Maybe you see a guy who is working out with no shirt, trying to boost his 'likes' on social media. Or maybe you see a guy who is trying to get a new picture for his dating profile. But what I see is a guy who works out without his shirt because he has severe heat intolerance and it’s the best way to control his body from overheating.... What I see is a guy who wears ankle braces when he works out because his ankles get too tired and weak to stabilize him. What I see is a guy whose left leg is so tired that he can’t hold it straight. What I see is a guy that no matter what life throws his way, will never give up. Remember, we all go through battles that no one else knows about." - Donavon, diagnosed with MS in 2016 Jennifer Lewans Photography

In the 70s, Canadian workers gained access to 15 weeks of paid leave under the newly-created Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefit. Fifty years later, the benefit remains virtually unchanged. The EI sickness benefit allows Canadians who are impacted by a personal health issue to adjust their work status and access financial support while focusing on their medical needs. Once an employee has worked 600 hours in the previous year, they are eligible to access the sickness b...enefit, which dispenses 55 per cent of insured wages for a maximum of 15 weeks. Once the 15 weeks are up, an employee must requalify by logging another 600 hours of work. As it stands, 15 weeks is too short a time-frame for many people with chronic conditions like MS to adequately recover given existing coverage gaps, and overall, Canada’s EI sickness benefit lags behind supports found in other countries. The #TakeActionForMS campaign is calling on the federal government to extend the EI sickness benefit to at least 26 weeks. We’re advocating for crucial changes to help ensure people who live with MS and want to continue working are able to do so. Take five minutes to email your Member of Parliament asking them to #TakeActionForMS today. Join the campaign: https://bit.ly/38Oj6nV.

When it comes to my MS, what works for me is being open and honest about my mental health. When you’re battling a chronic disease and feel like your life as you know it is being taken away, to say you’re emotionally affected is an understatement. Research has shown the link between living with MS and depression, and that’s why it’s critical for me to have strong coping skills and a loving support system. Researching lifestyle modifications and applying it to my own life enab...les me to take control of my health, which otherwise would be out of my hands. - Amanda, MS Society Young Adult Committee member As young adults try to manage MS, along with other aspects of life, prioritizing the importance of informed lifestyle decisions that can alleviate the impact of MS and minimize its progression is critical. On Friday, November 27 from 4:30-5:30 pm ET, join the MS Society’s Young Adult Committee in welcoming an expert panel of speakers who will provide an overview of relevant research in lifestyle modification and tips on how to apply them. Topics will include: exercise and physical activity, mental health, diet and nutrition, and research, and the panel presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. Register for the session here: https://bit.ly/388cyQF. Following the panel, there will be a Young Adult Social Engagement Session, where you can connect with other young adults from across Canada, talk about the information presented in the panel, and discuss what’s important to young adults affected by MS.

Just one week left until the Women Against Multiple Sclerosis (WAMS) Gala presented by the LOVE YOU by Shoppers Drug Mart program! On November 20, we will recognize WAMS honourees from across the country who are making a difference in business and the community. We sat down with two of our honourees, Diane Kazarian and Linda McGowan, to get their thoughts on finding work/life balance, mentoring and the importance of achieving a world free of MS. Get to know Diane and Linda ...by reading our latest blog: https://bit.ly/3kpanKU. Join us in celebrating all the honourees at the #WAMS Gala and become a part of a powerful collective of professionals nationwide in support of Canadians living with MS. Purchase your ticket today at https://bit.ly/3ls1Zvo.

"Confession time: I'm pregnant with my second daughter and I have MS. What does this mean? I get weird questions like: Have you spoken to your doctor? Are you allowed to get pregnant with your condition? Aren't you worried about your children? The irony is that I've even received these questions from my own mother. Receiving an MS diagnosis can be really scary, especially before you do any research. Just after having my first daughter, my neurologist diagnosed me with the dis...ease. It was terrifying because I knew my world was going to change and I thought it would be for the worse. However, what I learned is that I was embraced by a community that was supportive of my new journey and understood that I still wanted to work, travel, and have a family. Through this new step in my journey, I understood that I had triggers and that stress management became essential to my overall health and well-being. I surrounded myself with co-workers who became my extended family and helped me if I needed a moment to myself. Most importantly, I began seeing a neurologist that understood that I may want the option to expand my family one day. Here I am - pregnant with my second daughter - vulnerable by sharing my journey, but stronger because of it. I hope to raise my daughters to accept people's differences and learn from them." - Janelle, diagnosed with MS in 2016.