``Do Not Let It Stop You``

My name is Aaryn Wichelns-Backiel, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis during my junior year in high school. Before being diagnosed I was getting ready to take my SAT’s and I was under a lot of stress. I kept telling my family that I was not feeling right. My head was hurting, I was seeing doubles, and had little spasms in my hands and feet.

My family told me that I was not drinking enough water and needed to rest/eat better. One day after class, I fell in the hallway and could not get up. People were trying to help but I was seeing doubles. I went to the school nurses office and she checked my eyes. I got all of the numbers wrong. After my father picked me up from school, he took me to an eye doctor and again I failed everything the doctor asked me to do.

“Something is very wrong, I am sending you to the hospital,” he said.

I remember the doctors talking about me possibly losing my sight or having lyme disease. I could not see and I wanted to know why. I ended up going to JFK Hospital and wow I was scared. Having to do a lot of different tests, including a spinal tap recommended that my parents said was okay to do in order to find out exactly what was going on.

After 3 days of being in the hospital and doing all of these tests; MRIs, spinal taps, walking tests, and vision tests. All while having so many different IV’s running. I had told my parents that I could manage staying by myself in the hospital and could wait until visiting hours since I had younger sisters. Then, a very nice doctor came into my room with many folders that had a lot of paperwork in them.

The doctor said, “we know what you have…you are being diagnosed with MS”.

My first reaction was having many, many questions. What was MS? What did MS do? How did I get this and why? Being told at 16 years old that I would be living with MS, which has no cure, was frightening. Everywhere I looked said, “MS only affects people in their 30’s or older.” It’s difficult to live with an incurable disease without knowing the full story. I went though a troubling time trying to understand how and why this happened.

A month after my diagnosis, I decided to get involved with organizations that supported those with MS. The first organization I went to was Walk MS. It was nice to see people come out and walk to fine a cure. However, it was difficult to be there at first because I did not see anyone my age. People looked at me and said, “you do not have MS” or “are you sure you got the correct diagnosis?” A lot of people did not believe me.

However, as I gradually accepted this prognosis, I was determined that MS would not stop me from living my life or trying something new. I was now determined to show the world that MS is a part of my life, but not my whole life. As time went by, I not only accepted my disease but I also had some great memories. I attended a Teen MS Camp, which completely changed my life for the better! Meeting other teens my age from all across the country, both male and female, from different backgrounds all going to this place because we were all living with MS! I was only 16, scared and recently diagnosed. Wow!

It was very rewarding seeing that MS did not just target me but all of these other people my age, even some younger/older than me were also diagnosed. I didn’t feel so alone but felt connected to others going through something similar. After going to this camp, I never wanted to leave. Seeing what medications they were taking compared to my medications. Those people I met turned into my best friends. My best friends and I talk still to this day and not just about life with MS. We may have met because of MS but we talk today as if we have been friends for years before.

MS has not stopped me from living my life. Yes I’ve had a few flare-ups because I was not listening to my body or not drinking enough water. MS has opened my eyes to show me that I had to stop what I was doing and live my life better. MS was a blessing. If it wasn’t for my diagnosis, I don’t know where I’d be. God gave me MS so I get to live everyday with meaning.

MS did not stop me from graduating high school or college. MS did not stop me from going sky diving or meeting my husband. MS did not stop me from trying to be a mother. I am pregnant and due in April. My biggest support system has been my family, friends, doctors, and nurses. They are there whenever I need them.

If I found support, so can you. You are not alone. People do care and will help you if you ask. If anyone needs to talk, I will always be there as a resource. MS will not stop you from living your life. It might get in the way but you are stronger than MS. Never let MS win. MS now stands for Multiple Sclerosis but in the future MS will stand for Mystery Solved!

I am turning 27 and June 28th will be my 10 year anniversary living with MS. I never let my MS diagnosis stop me, do not let MS stop you!