While on the hike and at one of our rest points, a lady and man sat down beside my team and we all began talking. Turns out the lady has MS and has lived with the disease for almost 20 years. She was telling us all about what she does to help the MS community and what she participates in. She takes part in the MS hikes, MS bike rides and more...and her husband participates by her side in every event. When we asked about how long she's lived with MS, she told us how she had been officially diagnosed 15 years ago. The lady was 40, so that would have made her about 24 or 25 when she was diagnosed. However, she said she began developing the symptoms of MS at 19 years old, while playing college basketball. Her symptoms and diagnosis of MS obviously changed her life and many of her plans; however, this woman was determined not to let MS control or ruin her life. That's when she told us about the hikes, bike rides and more that she does to raise money for and awareness for MS and to be an example for others with MS. She also told us that she thanks God everyday for her diagnosis. She said prior to her diagnosis, she took many things in life for granted and that since her diagnosis, she doesn't even take the small things in life (like the ability to walk) for granted.
I hope we can all learn something from this amazing woman. Here is to taking nothing in life, regardless of how big or small, for granted.
Hike MS Copper Mountain, July 2012 (7 mths pregnant)
Team SLV @ Hike MS Copper Mountain, July 28th 2012
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