The future felt uncertain when Dan and I were each diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis back in 2000 and 1997, respectively. There were treatments available, but the options were limited. Many of the conversations centered around managing symptoms and slowing disease…
I noticed the Quality Supports Specialist from our Area Agency on Aging wiping away tears as Dan walked off the stage after delivering his speech at Older Michiganians Day (OMD). She leaned toward me and said how meaningful his words…
When Jennifer and I launched the podcast for A Couple Takes on MS, we hoped it would spark honest conversations about life with Multiple Sclerosis, caregiving, advocacy, and marriage. We did not expect it to become such an important part…
There was a moment early that Saturday morning in May when the cold and forecasted showers made everything feel uncertain. Walk MS in Frankenmuth began under gray skies, steady rain, and the kind of weather that makes you wonder whether…
Concert tickets might sound like a small thing, but for Dan and me, they’re not. Live music is one of our favorite ways to feel connected, normal, and joyful beyond the daily realities of living with Multiple Sclerosis. A couple…
There are moments when living with Multiple Sclerosis feels like a series of calculations between what we can afford, what can wait, and what simply cannot happen at all. Dan recently faced one of those moments when he needed hernia…
The slightly worn and curled piece of paper asks, “How is what you’re doing going to get you closer to where you want to go?” Dan taped this makeshift sign to the wall of our dining room a few days…
The other day, I walked into a room and stopped. Not because I needed something but because I couldn’t remember why I was there. Does this ever happen to you? Moments like that—those little lapses in memory—happen to everyone, but…
In less than 24 hours, I’m heading to my twice-a-year dental appointment. Dan is taking me to the dentist. No big deal, right? Especially because—and not to brag—I brush and floss like it’s my job. But I am nervous. Not…
‘I didn’t set out to become a caregiver.’ Like a lot of people, I stepped into the role of a caregiver because it was needed. Because it was part of loving someone. Quite honestly, there wasn’t another option. My wife,…