Jennifer and I have shared personal stories about our life with Multiple Sclerosis for more than 20 years. They’re what we know.
But it’s always humbling when other people connect with us because they want to know more about our story and share it in their words.
Amelia Gouin humbled us a few weeks ago.
Amelia is a sophomore at Central Michigan University who is pursuing a major in Integrative Public Relations and a minor in Multimedia Design. She reached out to Jennifer and me in early December because she was interested in interviewing us for a personality profile she was assigned to write for a journalism class.
She came to our house one evening and, with her notepad and pen in hand and voice recorder strategically positioned on the arm of our living room chair, spent nearly an hour with us as she asked engaging questions that got to the heart of our individual and shared experiences living with MS.
Amelia shared with us the story she developed for her assignment and was gracious enough to let us share it with you here.
In a text to Amelia I commented, “You absolutely rocked it! … That you spent nearly an hour with us and were able to condense it down to such a comprehensive and thorough story is impressive.”
We are grateful for her fresh perspective on our experiences and honored to share Amelia’s story:
Life can go on after the diagnoses, living with Multiple Sclerosis
Dan Digmann’s phone rang. His doctor called to confirm that he was officially diagnosed with MS, a chronic illness with no cure. Digmann started to cry. He was devastated.
Digmann has been diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS. MS is a disease that affects nervous system and interrupts the flow of information from the brain and body. MS progressively gets worse with time and there is no cure.
Men are three times less likely to develop MS. Digmann is in the 26% of men diagnosed with MS compared to 74% women. Digmann today, hopes that he can help others with their perspective on life with MS.
“I just hung up the phone and realized this isn’t just a cold that is going to go away after some antibiotics,” said Digmann, “this is something you have for the rest of your life. I was just bawling.”
It started with numbness in his feet and hands along with chest pain. After many tests Digmann received his diagnosis on Valentine’s Day, 2000. He was 27 years old.
Digmann met his wife Jennifer at a National Multiple Sclerosis Society Event in 2002. The two clicked and later got married in 2005. They have been married for 17 years.
“When men are diagnosed, I can’t imagine what that’s like,” said Jennifer Digmann, “I mean it’s hard as a woman, don’t get me wrong, but men as traditional breadwinners – they have all these preassigned societal roles and expectations. I can’t imagine what that’s like.”
The Digmanns have went on to write a book, start a YouTube channel, podcast and blog. They hope to give hope to people who have been recently diagnosed.
“I never really started living until after I was diagnosed with MS,” said Digmann, “all the stuff I’ve accomplished in that last 24 years, I never would have done that.”
The couple has plans to write their next book. The Digmann’s goal is to help show people that life goes on after being diagnosed.
“I want to be there for people like me who were just diagnosed and show them what they can do to be their best self,” said Digmann.
The Digmanns will continue their podcasts, blogs and writing to help inspire others.
“There is nearly a million people in the U.S. living with MS,” said Jennifer Digmann, “nobody looks the same, it’s different for everyone. That is important to remember.”