As you walk across campus, it may not occur to you how hard it would be to walk that same route to class with hand crutches. Imagine making dinner for your family, but having to quit because it becomes too painful to stand. Imagine needing to run an errand but having to wait because you can’t go on your own and you need help. These are just a few of the struggles people with Multiple Sclerosis face every single day.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the nervous system. Because this disease affects any part of the nervous system, it affects people who have the disease differently. Some with MS may go blind, or become paralyzed, whereas some people may have it, but not even be able to tell.
In 1995, Candi Jareske went to the doctor because she was feeling tingling and numbness in her hands and feet. That year, Candi was diagnosed with MS. Candi began having problems years before but hadn’t officially know what the problem was.
Since being diagnosed with MS, Candi has faced many effects of the disease. Her vision has been altered, along with her memory and speech, she has been dizzy, and even been to a point where she couldn’t move the left side of her body.
Although there is no cure for MS, Candi has taken many different kinds of Disease Modifying Drugs (DMD) to help with the symptoms. She has tried steroids and recently was treated with Chemotherapy. The Chemo stopped more lesions on her spine from forming. Candi, along with thousands of others diagnosed with MS are hopeful that a cure will soon be found.
Candi mostly uses her hand crutches, but does have a wheelchair and scooter for when she needs it. Being held back with these things makes the simplest everyday activities a challenge for her. Candi is a mother of six. Taking care of six children for any mother is a challenge, but having MS makes it even more difficult. Making dinner for her family is difficult because it becomes too painful to stand for long amounts of time. When Candi needs to run an errand she has to wait for someone to go with her because she can’t do the simplest thing like open the door to the bank.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) is a society that raises awareness of MS. NMSS also raises funds to help and support individuals with MS and their families. The NMSS provided Candi with a scooter free of charge. The NMSS also provides lawyers , doctors and nurses incase families need them for any reason. Everything the NMSS does is because of donations that people make. “It’s important and appreciated to make donations when asked, people have no idea how much it helps.” said Candi. Candi also encourages people to do the MS walks. There is an MS walk on Saturday the 17 of Sept. at Bel-air school in Norfolk, NE at 9 am. All funds raised goes to the NMSS.
One of Candi’s daughters is already working on raising money for people just like her mom. Yesterday the Northeast Viewpoint sponsored a table in the Hawks landing raising money for the NMSS. If students or faculty donated a $1.50 or more towards the NMSS, they received an inspirational bracelet. The total raisings for the day was $140. To donate or find out more about MS, visit nationalmssociety.org.