b'use of the words normal and functioning you, its not all of you. (I have MS, MS doesnta bit unsettling. have me!) You will learn to adapt and makeThings started changing for me after my adjustments in how you do dierent things. ImomjoinedthisFacebookgroupcalled also believe finding a good neurologist isPMSA and became friends with other moms important. Your doctor should be someoneof kids who have MS. Through this group she who you are comfortable speaking with andheard about Oscar the MS Monkey. This is an who listens to you. I have been seeing myorganization started by a young lady named neurologist, Dr. Wendy Vargas, since I wasEmily Blosberg who was diagnosed with MS first diagnosed. She listens to me and isat a young age too and found it isolating. She up-front with me. wanted to have a camp where other children Another reminder, dont be afraid to askwith MS and their families from throughout for help if you need to see a therapist. Itsthe country could meet in person and connect. good to have someone to talk to aboutAt Oscar the MS Monkey camps, I met other personal matters whos not someone youteens/kids who have multiple sclerosis (they already know. Also, join a support group suchlive in Louisiana, Iowa, Michigan, Alabama, as Oscar the MS Monkey. It really helps. IColorado, Texas, and other parts of N.Y. like wasnt sure it would at rst but I was verymyself).wrong. You get to talk with others who haveAt these camps, families can also attend. something in common with you. AfterWe do regular camp activities but we also attending the MS camps, you go home feelinghave group discussions; talk with doctors and better. others on dierent topics such as taking our Having MS does change your life but itsmedicines; dealing with school, friends, and not all negative and remember, you can stillparents; and being advocates for ourselves do a lot of things. Again, for some things youwhencommunicatingwithdoctorsand might need to make adjustments. You canteachers. I have remained friends with many still play sports, go to college, and travel.from the camp and we talk and text each My advice to parents of kids/teens newlyother throughout the year. Because of this, I diagnosed: its important to empathize withdenitely feel less isolated. Within a year of your child and what they are feeling but dontattending camp, they have become my second push too much. We know you worry about us butfamily. we dont want you to worry too much. We will beBesides learning a lot about my condition, okay. While you shouldnt underestimate the roleI have also learned that I am very resilient MS can play in our lives, dont underestimateand I feel much more empathetic to the us either. Dont be too afraid to let us try newsuering of others around the world. things. The worst thing you can do is pretendAdvice I would give to other adolescents MS doesnt exist at all.newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis: Yes, I do agree with that saying I have MS butit can be scary at the beginning and you will MS doesnt have me. I will be attendingfeel depressed, but you will grow into having college in the fall and will continue being anMS. What I mean is, while MS is a big part of advocate for kids and teens who have MS. Fun fact: I wrote about my resilience here and to my surprise, I just received a plaque frommy high school, 2021 Resilient Scholar Award. But Im not the one who deserves this title. Allkids and teenagers with multiple sclerosis are resilient.39 msfocusmagazine.org'