16 msfocusmagazine.org Life with MS By Tony DiGerolamo “MS Focus and its entire staff are like family to me. I honestly don’t remember the exact details of howourrelationship started. I believe itwasthroughtheMSFocusCruiseforaCause®. I just remember being drawn to the genuine enthusiasm that the Foundation staff has for improving the lives of those with MS.” Ben Thrower, M.D., known as Dr. Ben to his friends, patients, and colleagues, serves as the senior medical advisor for MS Focus and is the medical director for the Andrew C. Carlos MS Institute at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. At the Shepherd Center, his time is divided between caring for patients as a member of a comprehensive care team, interpreting MRIs, and conducting clinical research. As our senior medical advisor, Dr. Ben contributes to every issue of MS Focus Magazine. He writes our Doctor’s Notes column, which features his expert advice and insight into the latest MS news. Dr. Ben also answers questions submitted by our readers and clients, and he presents a monthly lecture in Atlanta that covers a wide range of MS topics. Dr. Ben earned his doctorate in 1988 from the University of Florida and has been a major force within the MS community for more than two decades. His drive to support those with MS began early in his career, “Before med school, I don’t think I personally knew anyone with MS. Like most doctors, I learned about MS in school. In Spokane, Wash., many of my patients were people with MS and it struck me how diverse and challenging MS is. It also became obvious that managing MS well was a group effort. At that time, Spokane had no comprehensive MS center, but it really needed one. With the kind support of Holy Family Hospital, and a great team, we were able to bring that comprehensive care to eastern Washington.” Dr. Ben recalled a memorable patient from those early years who he continues to think about today. “My first patient with MS was a great guy named Joe. He was a crab boat captain who lived in Spokane, but worked in Alaska. His first MS attack left him with permanent walking issues and he was never able to captain a boat again. In spite of his situation, he went on to become a great advocate for people with disabilities, and even rubbed elbows with a U.S. president. Joe had a wicked sense of humor. While in the Dr. Ben Thrower