How Ten Remarkable Women Can Give YOU Courage and Support During the Pandemic

I'm always astonished at the courage and indomitability of the human spirit. I first learned the true meaning of courage in 1986 when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I met fellow patients struggling with the disease in unimaginable ways, yet they remained positive and generous to others in our community.

I'm reminded of their strength now, during this pandemic, as I watch ordinary people performing extraordinary acts of selflessness and courage.

It's true that not all heroes wear capes.

I wasn't concerned when I learned I'd have to stay home to flatten the curve. Staying home isn't unusual for me. When you live with MS you can be homebound whenever the disease acts up.

But the pandemic is unfamiliar territory that feels surreal and abnormal. Although I work mostly from home my instincts tell me to reexamine my business goals in preparation for a new reality.

The world is hurting and I'm looking for ways to stretch my wings to advocate for a wider audience within the chronic illness community. I want to go beyond the work I already do as a writer, speaker, consultant, and patient leader.

How can I find a new idea?

I began working with the multitalented and deeply compassionate business mentor Sarah Walton. Sarah is teaching me the importance of growing my business by not only focusing on making money but to also think, feel, and act with my heart. These two parts make one powerful, compassionate whole.

I jumped full steam ahead by joining her heart-centered business boot camp and monthly membership group.

Now I ask myself:

How can I best serve others? What can I do to offer kindness, empathy, compassion, and inspiration? How can I teach what people need to know? How can I offer support and courage to heal a patient's heart to feel anxious and alone? Who needs me most?

"God provides the wind but man must raise the sails." ~St. Augustine

Through Sarah, I was fortunate to meet a group of savvy, intelligent women entrepreneurs. Their hearts lie in their businesses. That's evident by the passion and devotion they dedicate to their craft and to the world around them.

Sarah, and all the women in our group, have been a great gift to me during the pandemic. It's no coincidence that I found them at a time when I'd need them most. It's been such a joy and a blessing.

I'd like to introduce you to ten sensational women. I believe their businesses (many offered online) can benefit everyone in the disability and chronic illness community as well as people outside the community. Here are the businesses you'll find: 

Hold onto your hats because here we go!

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Sarah Walton is a business mentor who’s been featured on The Today Show, speaks at women's conferences all over the world, and has helped hundreds of women start and grow businesses they LOVE. Originally from Salt Lake City, Sarah spent her 15-year corporate career in New York City, navigating the male-dominated world of tech, managing a P&L worth hundreds of millions of dollars, working closely with Marianne Williamson, mentoring dozens of women, and balancing motherhood at the same time.  

She’s the creator of The Money Mindset Course, an interactive course designed to transform your relationship to money, her Heart-Centered Business Bootcamp, an online program for aspiring entrepreneurs and The Manifest Mastermind, a 9-month personal and professional development experience. 

Sarah has become the go-to source of inspiration, no-nonsense teaching, and practical integration for women in business. 

She’s created a successful business and now speaks across the nation, offering her courses and workshops, which are designed to put more money in the hands of more women.


pandemicMarla Sacks is a yoga and meditation instructor and Conscious Connections Course creator. She works with her body on a daily basis to bring her state of mind into spiritual balance. Marla brings gentle kindness and compassion to others with a calm presence.

Allergic histamine reactions, rashes, autoimmune disorders, and Lyme Disease are a few of the challenges that remind her how even in darkness, in the midst of chaos and commotion, it's your birthright to do what it takes to find your center and bliss. "I'm sensitive to your aches, pains, and discomfort be it from an emotional or physical situation."

The Action Bliss Charity method that Marla provides offers students, teachers, wellness practitioners, and therapists a peaceful toolbox to tap into, even in the calamities that arise on any given day. Meditations guide students to access their own intuitive mind. The PSYCH-K/MEDITATION/PRIVATE WELLNESS healing sessions I offer are customized for individual and group settings.

For more info, go to www.marlasacks.com
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Rama Ginde: I offer virtual and in-person cooking classes. I am also the course creator of "The Ultimate Guide to Plant Powered Cooking In A Instant Pot." (Author's Note: A smash hit!)

You can find me cooking with children. experimenting with new recipes, dancing to Zumba, and taking long walks!

My website is www.wannabeechef.com

Take a look at my video for a taste of what I do!

 

 

 

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Karen Foote is the owner of Rebalance Reiki and Massage LLC in downtown Westwood NJ. She is a Reiki Master Teacher and Intuitive Healer who loves to bring peace, balance, and insight to her clients and students. Whether you come for a class or a healing session, you’ll have her full attention and she'll do her best to send you off better than you came in. Helping to open up your awareness and deepen your spirituality is her goal!

 

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Business: Clara Wang Photography

Websitewww.clarawangphotography.com

Social Mediawww.instagram.com/clarawangphotographywww.facebook.com/clarawangphotos 

Area of Expertise: Product + Branding Photography. Creating brand images and visual content for product-based businesses. Product images that sell and position makers, designers, and their brands above the crowd.

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Beautiful photograph by Clara Wang

Bio: Clara Wang is a product and branding photographer, and founder of Clara Wang Photography. Previously, Clara spent over 12 years as a specialist in the hotel and travel  womenindustry, managing consistent excellence, product quality, and people skills. She strongly believes it’s the little things that create a flawless experience. Today, she weaves her love of photography, branding, and product styling together to deliver the highest-quality photos for her clients to use in all of their marketing efforts. She uses her visual storytelling expertise to help women business owners create a powerful connection with their customers— branded images that beautifully set their products apart from the crowd and build trust with their audience. When not shooting in her studio, you’ll find Clara savoring delicious foods in restaurants or her own kitchen, watching rom coms on Netflix with a glass of wine in hand, or traveling on another global excursion with her husband and 2 boys.

Martha J. Fickinger
Style Venture, Inc

I’m a Partner at Peach, a lifestyle apparel company. Our mission is to help women thrive.pandemic

Our clothes transition easily for gym, work, and play. We use premium technical fabrics that are washable, stretchy, and travel friendly. We incorporate sustainable and upcycled fabrics in each collection. Our inclusive size range runs XXS-XXL.

Our virtual gatherings are a fun way for a group of friends to socialize while seeing the clothes. We ship everywhere in the USA, and we offer easy free returns.

https://www.discoverpeach.com/t/featured/spring-20-collection

 

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Business name: Margaret ("Peggy") DeLong, Psy.D. - Licensed Psychologist
Website: https://drpeggydelong.com

Dr. DeLong is a licensed psychologist known as The Gratitude Psychologist. She helps people live their best lives by teaching methods of cultivating joy, resilience, gratitude, and meaning. She does this in several ways: 1) "Come Alive with Dr. Peggy" - Her affordable happiness and personal development monthly membership ($5 first month/ then $24/month), 2) individual support/counseling, 3) speaking, 4) books, 5) bracelets.
"I feel better already." - Most frequent sentiment after a new client's initial contact with Peggy.

Margaret ("Peggy") DeLong, Psy.D.The Gratitude Psychologist
908-672-6344; peggydelong@comcast.net

 

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Laura Platt
My business name is Fox & Fairy
FoxandFairyStaging.com

Instagram @fox.and.fairy

I offer home staging, design, and organizing services. Most of my services can be offered virtually - they're all listed on my website. I also offer feng shui and energy clearing. I've put together a fun & informative Zoom presentation on Feng Shui for your home office. If you have a group that would enjoy the presentation, let me know! I'll be presenting for our BIG pod on May 13th - hope you can join in.

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Sarah Coniglio is a social impact photographer whose mission is to travel the globe telling stories and finding non-profit organizations to partner with in providing photography and consulting services. With travel being predominantly halted during this uncertain time, Sarah has come up with an engaging way of staying connected with clients and followers as she shares parts of her past travels.

In Sarah’s words: During this pandemic, I've been doing a weekly Zoom call to highlight various places I've traveled to all over the world to give people an escape from being stuck indoors. This includes penguins of Argentina, monkeys around the world, a safari in Kenya, butterflies of the Americas, and more! Recordings are available on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN-TMeNg3jup6p72K_Ynn7Q) and are perfect for children! All photos highlighted are available for purchase and for a limited time, I am offering a free custom photo puzzle with a print purchase.

Be sure to subscribe to Sarah’s newsletter - https://www.projectwonderfull.com/home/#newsletter and get a free penguin photo notecard!

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Gabriela Vivas  -  (Don't miss her "try before you buy" offer at the bottom of the page!): Our store, Dparz Shoe Boutique is located in Ridgewood, New Jersey. What makes us unique is that each shoe is uniquely made in only nine pairs and with 100% authentic leather material. What adds an exotic edge to each shoe is that they are all made in Brazil specifically by the hands of two designers - Tanara and Raphaella Booz. In fact, Gabriela, owner of Dparz, travels to Brazil twice a year to meet with the designers and customize a shoe collection that caters to the wonderful women who shop at Dparz. This is why our motto, "Made for women, by women", holds true to its name. We stand for nothing less than to make women feel confident in whichever one of our shoes she chooses to conquer the world in.

The pandemic has impacted us tremendously. As a small business, we look forward to meeting our customers personally and have the privilege of helping select and shop their favorite styles. Our store offers a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, something not many shoe companies have.

Reflecting on our motto, “Made for women, by women,” we are using this time to inspire women to remain positive and strong, aiming to spread encouragement and optimism through our social media pages @Dparzshoes sharing activities such as cooking tutorials, gardening tips, and DYO facial masks. Not only do these small activities provide a source of entertainment, but they inspire our customers to bring their family together and promote a sense of unity and connection during this difficult time.

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We have been supporting our Community  “Oasis-A Haven for Women & Kids.” This charity has enabled us with the opportunity to donate 150 pairs of shoes to those in need. As well Ladies Savant Foundation Mother's Day project for Saint Joe's Hospital on the NICU floor. Dparz will be gifting a pair of shoes to ten mothers who have been affected by Covid-19, and twenty gift cards for each of the remaining mothers.

As well each day, we are promoting one strong woman. We are having our valued customers, friends, and family share short videos relaying positive messages, and telling us how they shine their light during this difficult time. We are hoping these simple messages can help one another remain in high spirits during this difficult time.

This Month of May, we are also launching another promotion that allows customers to buy a gift card of $100, and receive an additional $25 gift card on us. This is the perfect treat for Mother’s Day.

With our location being shut down due to Covid-19, our store has moved primarily to online shopping, denying our customers the experience of browsing our collections in person at our store. Despite the current circumstances, we have been working on developing better online engines to make shopping on our website an enjoyable experience for our customers. A new program we are excited to launch is entitled “Try before you Buy.” This program will allow our customers to try out up to four pairs of shoes with only a $15 deposit. Because we are unable to offer our customers the opportunity to try on our shoes in-store, we want to bring that experience into their homes in an easy and affordable way. We believe that our Try before you Buy program will offer the next best thing to our customers.

We recognize and understand this is a difficult time for everyone. At Dparz, we are striving to do all we can to make things a little easier for our customers. Dparz is not just a shoe boutique, it is more than that. Dparz is a lifestyle that promotes confidence for all women. This is what identifies us and separates us from competing brands. We value individuality and uniqueness, and it is our pleasure to cater to that for all of our wonderful customers.

https://dparz.com/blogs/blog/try-before-you-buy

Dparz Shoes
12 S Broad St Ridgewood, NJ 07450

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Breaking Myself Open: How a Third Diagnosis Can Change You

In the age of “fake news” smart readers have become more scrupulous about the information they read. They can smell dishonesty and insincerity a mile away. As children, we learn the importance of telling the truth but somewhere along the line, some adults forget that lesson.

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” ~Oscar Wilde

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I find myself at another crossroads of telling my own truth because I want to be open about my journey. It’s not an easy one to discuss but I know I need to tell it.

I thought long and hard about whether to write this post. As I quietly thought about my dilemma I again thought about Elizabeth Lesser’s inspiring book “Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow” as it reminded me that breaking myself open would not only be cathartic but could also bridge the gap between despair and empowerment for others.

The first year I began to blog I was hesitant and anxious about revealing my health-related stories. I didn’t want to sound whiny or absurd. Then I gained confidence when I realized I was making a difference. Readers would talk about a sense of renewed courage and determination to fight the daily struggles of chronic illness. That gave me the encouragement to keep on writing.   

So here I am, once again, telling my story. This time I’ll take a few cleansing breaths before I begin.

This new diagnosis is a doozy.

In the summer of 2017 I began noticing some hair loss. I'd find more than the usual amount of hairs in my brush, clumps of hair in my hands while shampooing and areas of my scalp that weren’t previously visible when I looked in the mirror.

I thought this might be due to age, or from the stress of losing loved ones over a twelve month period of time - my beloved father-in-law then my beloved father, then our sweet and amazing cat, Max. (Only pet lovers will understand the heartbreak of losing a pet.)

This past summer I made an appointment to see a dermatologist. He tested for the possibility of other autoimmune diseases like Lyme and was happy to report the results were negative.

Then he cleared his throat to tell me something I didn’t understand. I asked him to repeat it.  

I have female pattern alopecia (androgenetic alopecia.) Before you start googling it here’s the definition:

“Progressive loss of scalp hair in women, characterized by diffuse thinning on the crown but rarely leading to baldness; androgenetic alopecia. Also called female pattern hair loss.” Medical Dictionary

Female pattern alopecia requires a medical diagnosis and I’ve had two opinions from two dermatologists. They both took blood tests and scalp biopsies. FPA isn’t curable, it’s genetic and for me, it's surreal.diagnosis

There isn’t much research in the area of hair loss. For now, I’m using the daily topical treatment Rogaine for men (5% minoxidil) that’s FDA approved. Rogaine doesn’t rescue hair but stimulates new hair growth. If you stop using it hair will continue to shed. I’ll be using Rogaine for the rest of my life. There’s no guarantee it will work, but it’s the only game in town.

In addition to Rogaine, I’m taking the prescription Spironolactone, a diuretic (water pill) that also blocks the androgen (hormone) that miniaturizes hair follicles. This medication is supposed to reduce hair shedding and increase hair growth. Again, no guarantees.

I’ve lost hair around the top and sides of my hairline and at the crown. Overall my hair is now thinner and grows slowly after a trip to the salon.

I’m also following the advice of Dr. Josh Axe, a natural medicine doctor and clinical nutritionist, by massaging a mixture of essential oils into my scalp (clary sage, rosemary, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and cedarwood) every night.

It’s ideal to keep stress at bay, weed out toxic behavior, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. I already follow an anti-inflammatory diet for MS since MS is an inflammatory immune condition. I practice gentle yoga, meditate daily, and attend weekly sessions of acupuncture by a nurse who’s also an expert in Chinese medicine.

So there you have it, my official third diagnosis.

Multiple Sclerosis, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and female pattern alopecia all have something to do with inflammation. They’re also incurable.

My brain, gut and hair follicles are under attack and I wish I could win the war.

Sometimes I harbor dark feelings that my body is failing me after fighting so many uphill battles for so many years. Learning that I am losing hair brought on a different kind of darkness, the kind that stems from vanity - yes, I’ll admit it - and feeling less than feminine.

When I’m living in that dark space I know how to crawl out. I count all of my blessings. Aside from supportive family and friends I know that none of my diagnoses are terminal and for that I am deeply grateful.

Well-meaning family and friends tell me their hair is also thinning, but it’s simply not the same. Thinning hair is never fun for anyone and I’d never pass judgment on how others feel about their hair. The changes in our bodies as the year's pass can be difficult.

But hair thinning and alopecia are two different things.

When I read discussions in private Facebook groups about women’s hair loss and notice threads about the best wigs and transplants it’s unsettling. I want my thick, curly, mind-of-its-own hair back. Shame on me for ever complaining about it.  

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My hair over the years

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For now I can cover my bare scalp with my curls. I hope Rogaine will help restore or strengthen the hair follicles.

Now the work begins again. I know what I have to do. Dig in my heels and go into crazy researcher mode because It’s best to start treatments as soon as possible to avoid irreparable hair loss.  

I hope by telling my story I can help remove the stigma attached to women’s hair loss. Women should be confident no matter what they/we look like. Our value lies in who we are.

Please don’t feel sorry for me. I really don't want that. My new reality requires me to stay strong. No stress. No panic. No sorrow.

My other diagnoses taught me many lessons, to hold on tight, hope for the best, ask questions, communicate with others, consult with the best doctors, remain calm and put your health first. 

Please share your thoughts, recommendations, and/or suggestions. Do you have ideas on taming inflammation? Do you have SIBO, female pattern alopecia or MS? Have you tried anything that does or doesn't work? Have you used complementary medicine to address your condition(s)? Can you suggest a reputable specialist/trichologist?

Trichologists are hair and scalp specialists (one type of skin specialist) who diagnose the causes of hair fall, hair breakage, hair thinning, miniaturization of hairs, diseases of the scalp, and treat according to cause. - Wikipedia  

One last thing: I know I’ll always be okay because…..

One morning as I was inspecting my thinning spots in the mirror my husband caught a glimpse of the sadness in my eyes. He walked over, gave a shy smile, kissed my forehead and my head. I feel truly loved and that will help me through any rough patches ahead. With him in my corner, there’ll always be a light at the end of the tunnel.

What a corny ending, but I’ve always been a sucker for them.

Here's a list of what I am currently using to fight FPA. The shampoo is a bit pricey but hopefully will be worth it. All products were ordered on Amazon.com.

I won't receive any commissions for your purchases. I list them for informational purposes only.

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Shampoo and conditioner

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Left to right: Hair Max is a natural supplement to strengthen hair and block DHT, Saw Palmetto is a natural hair supplement to help fight hair loss, Toppik is a powder of keratin hair fibers used to give the appearance of thick, full hair.

Products recommended to me:

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"iRestore Laser Hair Growth System + Rechargeable Battery Pack – FDA-Cleared Hair Loss Product - Treats Thinning Hair for Men & Women - Laser Hair Therapy Restores Hair Thickness, Volume, Density"~Amazon.com

Other recommendations:
Davina's Shampoo and Conditioner
Bamboo based shampoo
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) Therapy - A three-step medical treatment where a patient’s blood is drawn, processed, and then injected into the scalp.

NOTE: This blog post is not meant to serve as medical advice or a recommendation for treatment. This is my own unique story. If you think you're losing more hair than usual consider scheduling a consultation with a qualified doctor.

Why Community Is Important In The Midst Of Sadness

Women of my generation were not always taught as young girls to be self-reliant but were instructed to do well in school, build a community of friends and marry well. We learned early on that boys were groomed for careers while girls were groomed to sew, cook and look nice.

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The tides slowly changed after the second wave of feminism. Popular culture reflected these changes with television shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Alice and One Day at a Time where the protagonists were self-reliant women, albeit arriving there under different circumstances. They were smart, savvy ladies.

Several years ago I recall chatting with other stay-at-home moms at a book club meeting. My decision to stay home to raise our son is one I’ll never regret. During our discussion one mom, an attorney with two children who worked part time, said something I’ll never forget. She attended law school because of her grandmother’s advice: Women should work to earn their own income, depositing part of their paycheck into a bank account of their own. No woman should be fully dependent on anyone.

As much as I wanted to be self-reliant my career choices were never breadwinners. Yet raising a child and all that the “job” entailed created a fifty-fifty proposition in our home. My husband and I always saw each other as providers on an equal playing field. That is part of what makes our marriage a strong one.

“Heroes didn't leap tall buildings or stop bullets with an outstretched hand; they didn't wear boots and capes. They bled, and they bruised, and their superpowers were as simple as listening, or loving. Heroes were ordinary people who knew that even if their own lives were impossibly knotted, they could untangle someone else's. And maybe that one act could lead someone to rescue you right back.” ~ Jodi Picoult, Second Glance

I also believe in the value of community, a term that morphed from like-minded people living in the same community to people finding one another on social media.

If we were all completely self-reliant there wouldn’t be a need for community, and Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest would have never survived. We wouldn’t be interested in helping, supporting and lifting each other up. A great society needs to have a strong sense of community in order to survive.

Growing up I loved having a lot of friends. During teenage angst and changing hormones my heart would sometimes get broken. Yet I always picked myself up and moved on.

“When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person that walked in. That’s what the storm is all about.” ~Haruki Murakami

It’s in that heartache where important lessons are learned.

A true friend will laugh and cry with you. They’ll support you in your choices and tell you when you’re wrong. They’ll love you in your darkest and brightest moments.

And you will shine a light their way as well.  

In midlife the definition of community changes. The revised definition applies to the rules of blogging as well if we want our blogs to be well-received. We seek love, support, guidance, a friendly ear, a shoulder to cry on, an honest opinion and mutual respect.

In a week filled with sadness from the passing of two giants who left us too soon I thought a lot about being self-reliant and creating community. We can't be completely self-reliant because we all need to be part of a community, no matter what size, shape or form.

David Bowie and Alan Rickman relied on their great gifts to create the communities who mourn for them. They will forever remain in our hearts.

How are you building your community?

♥♥♥♥♥♥

There's still a few more days to vote for AN EMPOWERED SPIRIT as Best Health Blog of 2015. If you've enjoyed my work please cast your vote every 24 hours (using BOTH Facebook and Twitter) by clicking here. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

Five Women Who Keep Me #strongerthanMS

World MS Day is May 27 and The MS International Federation is asking people worldwide to celebrate their thoughts about “breaking down the barriers to access” and sharing what makes them #strongerthanMS.

#strongerthanMS

I’ve thought a lot about this and came up with two conclusions:

I thought it’d be appropriate to celebrate World MS Day by introducing you to five special women in my MS community. They hold a special place in my heart and have helped me stay #strongerthanMS.

(NOTE: It’d be impossible to write about all of the people who have made me #strongerthanMS for the last 28 years. I wish I could thank every single one of them.)

June Halper - I’ve known June since I was first diagnosed. She was my first nurse and taught me not only about MS but also that a diagnosis is only a small part of who I am. There isn’t enough room on my blog to list all of June’s incredible accomplishments. Many years ago I remember her saying, “I won’t rest until they find a cure for MS.” She truly meant it. #strongerthanMS

World MS Day will take place on May 27, 2015 throughout the world – a bit redundant but true.  Actually, the world of MS occurs every day in the lives of all those affected by MS: those carrying the diagnosis, their family, friends, and social circle. Today MS implies hope, empowerment, and new possibilities due to changes brought about by research into the cause, treatment and future cure of the disease.  The world of MS has expanded for the professional community as we have resources and tools for caring, sharing, education, and wellness.  So here’s a toast to those who came before us who provided us with these tools; and a toast to the future full of possibilities for a cure, full remission, and reversal of the disease.” ~June Halper, APN-C, Chief Executive Officer of Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers, Executive Director or International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses, MSNICB

Lisa Emrich – I met Lisa (check out her blog Brass and Ivory) on LinkedIn when she recommended me for my first paid writing job. We finally met in person in 2011 and I became enamored with her gentle and caring ways. I have a lot of respect for Lisa and her vision of creating a much-needed directory called Carnival of MS Bloggers, a site that showcases the growing number of MS blogs now available. I am honored to call Lisa my dear friend.

#smarterthanMS

Barriers are not always physical, financial, or social; sometimes they can be emotional. I am thankful for the love and assistance from family members, and my therapist, for helping me to bring light into the darkest corners of my inner self so that beauty, love, and life can be freely shared." ~Lisa Emrich, Multiple Sclerosis Patient Advocate, iConquerMS.org, HealthCentral.com, MultipleSclerosis.net, RheumatoidArthritis.net

Tresa Miller – I first met the hysterically funny and deeply passionate Tresa when we were peer advocates for a pharmaceutical company. We struck an immediate bond after she called me “Cat” and her “Yankee friend.” I guess if you’re from Indiana my Jersey "accent" seems kind of funny! She’s a force to be reckoned with and has an innate ability to make everyone feel renewed and energized despite MS. She’s truly one special lady.

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The Tri-State Multiple Sclerosis Association in Evansville, Indiana was my go-to resource both at diagnosis and through the 19 years with this disease. They assigned me a mentor at diagnosis and I really don’t think anything has ever been more appreciated. To get the opportunity to speak with someone that was not only in my shoes but also in my head as well was invaluable. She lifted me up, gave me practical advice and hope. Physicians give you clinical advice, but your own advocate gave me the truth. As a result, I live a beautiful life and am reminded as I talk to newly diagnosed patients to count my blessings every day. If I’m walking in a straight line and have my eyesight, I can do anything!” ~Tresa Miller, Owner of Grateful Threads Fabric

Dorothea “Dottie” Pfohl – I met Dottie while working at IOMSN (International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses). A dedicated nurse, Dottie is a ball of energy with a heart of gold who deeply cares about patient care. Recently retired, I have no doubt Dottie’s golden heart will continue to reach patients in many meaningful and caring ways.

#strongerthanMS

Dottie with her beloved grandchildren

Thinking about barriers and accessibility my first thought was of nephew Peter Fischer who, despite severe limitations became an architect and started a business and advocacy career around accessibility. I also reflected on the personal and realized that this year I stumbled across the barrier of retirement from my role in the MS Center and what that step would mean. Going forward I sensed a shift from what I do to who I am. The barrier of what I accomplish crossed I can focus less on what I have done or will do to being who I am now. It's not just endless vacation but it is a little victory and like folks who live with MS it is one I claim with pride. Every barrier broached is a finish line.” ~ Dorothea "Dottie" Cassidy Pfohl, RN, BS, MSCN, University of Pennsylvania Department of Neurology (retired)

Christie Germans – Christie is a powerhouse despite having MS. Her energetic spirit is palpable whether I’m reading her posts or speaking to her online. On her award-winning blog, The Lesion Journals, she introduces herself as “a number crunching photographer who loves riding my bike really, really fast!” Christie is the embodiment of joy, laughter and hope, and I look forward to meeting her in person later this month.#strongerthanMS

There are many people and groups who make a difference in my life with MS that it is impossible to list them all but here are some on my list: Kate Milliken, via the really cool Moodifier, for helping me stay true with my emotions. The initiative iConquerMS for empowering me to fuel MS research with my health data. The Multiplesclerosis.net blog for keeping the MS stories real and honest. This MS Life for creating a compassionate support program. Race to Erase MS for funding millions of dollars for MS research, and even Phil from the Amazing Race who motivates me to ride my bicycle. These are some of my heroes who have helped me grow to become #strongerthanMS. Most of all, though, are my fellow MSers who remind me each day to live everyday as full as possible.”

I want to thank June, Lisa, Tresa, Dottie and Christie for being such strong, vital and empowering women. The positive impact you have on the MS community helps us all feel #strongerthanMS.

About World MS Day (from worldmsday.org): "World MS Day brings the global MS community together to share stories, raise awareness and campaign with and for everyone affected by Multiple Sclerosis. World MS Day is the only global awareness raising campaign for MS. Every year, the MS movement comes together to provide the public with information about MS and to raise awareness on how it affects the lives of more than 2.3 million people around the world."

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