When I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2006, I knew very little about the disease and how it would change my life forever. 

I read every book and article about it hoping to find anything that would help with the anxiety and fear that I was experiencing.

My husband and I attended many conferences and information seminars to learn everything we could about the disease, hoping to calm some of the preconceived thoughts we were both having. Of course it helped to know what to expect, but MS is different for everyone. 

One conference we attended was for couples or singles to help with how to get in touch with the feelings of defeat and hopelessness that occurred after a diagnosis, and how to express those feelings openly.

I was surprised to see how many attendees had been through a divorce or separation because of the inability to put these feelings into words.

When I said my wedding vows, my commitment was for life as was my husband’s. We were young and completely unaware of what our future would throw at us many years later. How fortunate are we that those vows have stood the test of time.

My husband expresses it this way: some people will spend their entire life searching for the one thing that will give them a sense of purpose, but it was staring him in the face.

My heart goes out to anyone who must face Multiple Sclerosis or any chronic disease on their own.