Today is World Multiple Sclerosis Day. I’m not doing anything to “celebrate” except living in this body and trying to continue to spread awareness. I’ve shared this image before but it is the one of the many I’ve made that I think best articulates my experience. MS is an autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin sheath protecting the nerves in the brain and spinal cord leaving lesions and permanent damage to the nerves. I’m no expert by any means but my understanding is that majority of people with MS experience lesions in their brain and try to catch and prevent further development before it finds its way to the spine. Brain lesions come with a whole variety of issues that I don’t envy, spinal lesions tend to have a strong affect on a person’s mobility. I have some lesions on my brain but the majority are on my spinal cord. Because of this it was important for me to start medication as soon as possible to stop the progression, preserve my mobility and prevent the need of a walking aid. When faced with the choice of taking medication or losing my ability to walk I didn’t feel like I had much choice. I chose medication and it’s been almost a year of Tysabri infusions. There’s this looming ghost that creeps in the back of my neck, it’s dormant for now under the control of my medication. However Tysabri comes with its own risks and probably isn’t a forever fix. I continue live with permanent nerve damage and fatigue but I have had no new lesions form since I started medication. I’m really lucky and healthy right now and hopefully for a long while.