Multiple Sclerosis - A Story of Strength and Courage

Relapses, or exacerbations, are a worsening of physical symptoms or new symptoms that do not get any better over a short period of time. If not dealt with immediately, damage from relapses can become permanent meaning the symptom would become a permanent disability. Relapses are caused by new lesions on the brain or spinal cord.

SoluMedrol is a high dose corticosteroid used to treat multiple sclerosis relapses and certain types of cancers. In Multiple Sclerosis, it works by shutting down the immune system temporarily. This renders the immune system incapable of attacking the myelin, giving the nerves a chance to attempt to repair themselves. Within a week or two, the immune system restarts itself. During this time, the patient must be extremely careful since they will not be able to fight off any infections or illnesses.

Jena's rounds of IV Solu-Medrol are given once a day for 5 days. The infusions usually take between two to four hours, and once the IV is in place, I am able to give the infusions at home so she can be more comfortable. Unfortunately, Jena experiences almost every severe side effect listed and we wind up at the emergency room often due to heart related side effects. At this time, SoluMedrol is only one drug available to stop the progress of a relapse, so she has no choice but endure it.

Click here for more information about SoluMedrol.

As a result of the damage done to her veins by the combination of blood testing every three weeks, numerous rounds of IV SoluMedrol, and the general effects of MS, it became no longer feasible for her to receive SoluMedrol treatments through regular IV sites. The normal veins in her arms simply are not strong enough and blow immediately. For the last two rounds, Jena has received her infusions through a PICC Line, or Central Venous Catheter. A local anesthetic is given and a small cut is made on her upper arm. The PICC Line is then inserted into the vein, guided by the use of a small ultrasound machine, and the tubing is threaded through her vein until it is in her Superior Vena Cava near her heart. A chest x-ray is then taken to ensure correct placement. Once she accepted the idea of yet another medical invasive procedure, Jena found the PICC line to be a much more comfortable way to receive her infusions and likes the fact that it is removed afterward. The only draw back is now the medication is administered virtually straight to her heart, causing her blood pressure spikes and tachycardia to be much worse.

Jena is averaging a relapse, followed by infusions, every three months or less. Her neurologist is holding out hope that we will hit upon the correct combination of treatments to finally put her into remission before she experiences any more permanent damage.

Click here for more information on PICC Lines.

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Excerpt from National MS Society

After the initial shock of her diagnosis wore off, Jena picked herself up and began the task of reconstructing her life. She chooses to view MS as an inconvenience that periodically must be dealt with rather than a dreaded disease. She also chose to continue with her plans for college even though she now had to attend one here in our town instead of out of state. She's faced criticism for her choice of career, but maintains that she intends to follow her dream rather than live for "what if's." Even after all she has been through, I have never witnessed such determination, strength, and courage.

About that special quality of Jena's that I spoke of in the introduction, the one that seemed to grow right along with her - well, it kept coming up in conversations as she talked about how she used it to draw strength from to fight Multiple Sclerosis. We couldn't just keep saying "It" so Jenacide became the name. And similar to a "genocide", she is systematically fighting symptoms and a whole disease. One way or another, she will win.

Donate Now To The MS Society

You can make a cash donation online right now, safely and securely, by clicking on the above link, which will take you to the MS Society Donation Page.

If you'd prefer to mail a check directly, please send your donation to:
National MS Society - Georgia Chapter
1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite E101
Atlanta, GA 30338

Jena relapsed again last week so we had an emergency MRI which showed a new lesion on the thoracic area (btw her shoulder blades) of her spinal cord. This relapse was pretty scary because from her left hip all the way down her left leg was completely numb yet extremely painful. Literally overnight she lost balance and the ability to walk unassisted. Her Neurologist set her up with Physical and Occupational Therapy on her leg in hopes that this isn't permanent. Also, her neck, around her left shoulder, and down into her chest was numb, along with her right index finger and thumb. That doesn't sound like much, but considering she is right handed that affected everything she tried to pick up or hold.

Last Friday, she had another PICC line put in. She told them EXACTLY where she wanted them to put the cut. She said if she had to have scars, they could be "happy scars" at least. So now she has 2 eyes and a nose and is working on her smiley face. Only Jena would think of that!

Anyway, she made it through another round of SoluMedrol and I am happy to say that she has regained ALL feeling back everywhere, is able to walk again unassisted, and no longer needs any physical or occupational therapy. She still is in some pain but that is getting better every day. We really feel that this was a close call. We talked with her Neurologist today and we all feel that it is time to try something new. So starting next month, she will take 1 dose of SoluMedrol once a month. If we can keep some in her system all the time, hopefully that will keep her from relapsing.

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This infant and children's t-shirt can be customized for any relation,
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Jena has always loved to paint. Like all artists, painting relaxes her and troubles seem to melt away. Here are some of her original paintings as well as some photos she took. Please support her by taking a look around her store, leaving her a comment, and joining her fan club. Click here to visit Varietty.

Please show your support by clicking on any of the following products and making a purchase.

I'd like to end this lens on a happy note by reminding everyone that when one door closes another one always opens. Jena is proudly announcing her engagement to a wonderful young man who understands that there is so much more to her than Multiple Sclerosis. He has been right by her side, cheering her on as she accomplishes her goals and cheering her up when she can not get off the couch. They realize the road ahead will not always be easy or trouble free, yet they provide each other with the strength and encouragement to push forward. Life is filled with many ups and downs, but with unconditional love nothing is too great, or impossible.

I wish them a lifetime of love and happiness together.

This lens was approved by
Jena prior to publication.

My name is Lee. I proudly serve my country in the U.S. Navy for 6 years now. I've traveled all over the world, seen and done some amazing things. But it wasn't until about 6 months ago when I had seen and experienced the most amazing thing. I met and fell madly in love with Jena.

Until I met her I had never heard of MS or even knew what it was. Still to this day I learn more and more of the symptoms, treatments, and the emotional effects of MS, but it hasn't changed the fact of how I feel about her. I have never met anyone in my whole life that is so determined, passionate, and big hearted as her. We all have one person in our lives that we look up to, and strive to be like. I can say that she has been that person to me. She is my best friend, my mentor, and someone who pushes me to be a better person. I have come to know her very well, and have grown very attached. Yes she has a sickness, which to most, causes her to be "imperfect". But to me it's her imperfections that make her so amazing. MS is a small part of who she is. There are so many other great things about her that stand out above the MS. We must all learn that no one is perfect, and in saying so we should learn to embrace each other's imperfections instead of calling them out. There is a lot to be said about the power of true love. Anyone who has been married should remember and cherish "with this ring I take thee to have and to hold from this day forward, through the good and the bad, for richer or poorer, through sickness and in health until death do us part." But with today's day and age we all too often forget the reasons we fell in love with that special person and let the bad things consume us. Instead, during the bad times we should embrace and hold up the great things, the things we love about our better half and push forward. The good should always outweigh the bad.

I look at her, and I see a life time full of happiness, set aside all of the complications that will be a part of our lives. We both have come to know that we compliment each other almost perfectly. Where she falls weak, I am there to lift her up, and vice versa. When we had first met she was hesitant in sharing the part of her life with the MS. I now help with as much as I can, including helping give her the Copaxone shots that she must take daily. I still don't know everything about her struggle with the symptoms and her treatments, but I know the best medicine is love, support, and encouragement. I truly believe that is the best medicine for any kind of sickness and can't be prescribed. Every day I offer her words of encouragement, love, and understanding which seems to have the best results. I'm no doctor, and I know everyone who is diagnosed with MS will experience different symptoms and it will affect them in different ways. With the right determination, and the desire to find what does work to cure MS, all we can do is never give up hope, and flood their lives with unconditional love. She has become a huge part of my life, and I look forward to our life together, the good days and the bad. Our struggles in life don't make us who we are. How we handle our struggles is what defines us. I am proud and honored to be the man in her life, and to be the one who provides her with the best treatment she could ask for. It has been an amazing journey the past few months with her, and I am grateful to have the chance to give her the tools to fight MS and to push forward in life.