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"Providing You with 'MS Views and News', is what we do"

Keep Informed and up-to-date with information concerning

 Multiple Sclerosis when registered at

the MS Views and News website.

(This will take 20-25 seconds and will empower you

 with informaton and learning)

Thank you for allowing me to help to keep you informed

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MS Donor Closet Helps the Needy

MSF Ambassador Bill Brayer had an idea that in a short ten years mushroomed from recycling one person's used items into one of the largest donor closets in the nation.

In 1999, Bill had been meeting weekly with a group of residents who had MS at a nearby care/rehab center when one of the MS residents passed away at an early age. Her parents asked Bill to help find a home for an electric power chair, a manual wheelchair, a power chair, an electric hospital bed and several other DME/ME (durable medical equipment and mobility equipment) items.

This event sparked an idea for Bill - a service that would gather donations of gently used or new DME/ME items and provides them to people in need. Within six months his new Donor Closet became a local-area-only charitable sister company to Bill’s existing nonprofit agency, MS Helping Hands (MSHH). A local newspaper article covering the story about this special resource helped to bring in additional DME/ME items and more volunteers.

With the media coverage sharing Bill’s dream with others, his “Closet” soon required twelve 10x20 storage units (2,400 square feet). Soon, he was leading a small army of volunteers that helped to clean and repair the items, and assist any disabled recipients. 

As requests grew, Bill discovered many would-be donors had no way to get the items to the Donor Closet. No obstacles allowed, Bill simply asked a volunteer with his own van to assist.

When the area’s community found out of the Closet’s need, they were gifted a vehicle by a private donor, and later, another by a grant from The Boeing Corporation.

Growing quite huge, the Closet's storage overhead required that they had to start requesting a nominal donation from recipients. However, any leftover financial donations (after covering the monthly operating costs of the Donor Closet) are transferred into a restricted Financial Assistance Grant Fund. The funds are then used to provide monetary help to people with multiple sclerosis who reside in the State of Washington.

Bill has one saying he often refers to: “We are here to help the needy, not the greedy!” He feels there should be a Donor Closet in every city, as the need is there and so are the unused items. All it takes is someone to get the ball rolling.

If anyone wants to take on this challenge, Bill has written a how-to guide to starting and maintaining an all-volunteer Donor Closet in your area.

You can email Bill Brayer at info@mshelp.org for a copy of the how-to guide in a Microsoft Word document. And if you are a Washington state resident, visit the MSHH Donor Closet at 409 Howell Way in downtown Edmonds, WA. 98020. Tel: (425) 712-1807. 

Information Source: The MS Foundation


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"Providing You with 'MS Views and News', is what we do"

Keep Informed and up-to-date with information concerning

 Multiple Sclerosis when registered at

the MS Views and News website.

(This will take 20-25 seconds and will empower you

 with informaton and learning)

Thank you for allowing me to help to keep you informed

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For individuals who have speech, language or cognitive changes due to MS

Researchers at the University of Washington are conducting a study exploring the impact of MS on participation in everyday communication activities (activities in which you are talking to people). This study is for people who have experienced changes in their speech or cognitive functions as a result of MS. Investigators are developing a questionnaire to be used in future research and in speech therapy clinics. The study needs participants to complete a set of questionnaires about living with the speech or cognitive changes due to MS. The information from this study will be used to test the questionnaire that is being developed. The information will also help researchers learn more about people’s experiences living with MS.


Participants in this study will be asked to complete a set of questionnaires. You may fill these out at home on your own schedule. It will take you about an hour to complete all the questionnaires. You can take breaks as you need to and complete them at a pace that is comfortable for you. You may fill out these questionnaires online or on paper forms that will be mailed to you.


You are eligible to participate if you are an adult age 18 years or older. You must have been diagnosed with MS at least three months ago. You must be living in the community (for example at home or in assisted living). Nursing home residents are not eligible for this study. You must use speech as your primary method of communication. You may use writing or augmentative devices to help you communicate, but most of your communication must be by speaking. It does not matter what kind of treatments you have had for your condition. Minorities are strongly encouraged to participate.


You will receive $20 for completing the questionnaires (your choice of a $20 check or $20 gift card to Amazon.com). Participation in this study is voluntary. You are free to stop your participation at any time. Your participation is not related to any medical care you are receiving at any facility. Your participation is not related to your involvement in any support or advocacy groups.
More information about this study is available at: http://staff.washington.edu/cbaylor.


If you have questions or are interested in participating, you may use the contact method you prefer. If you leave a message, please include that you are interested in the “MS study.”


 Email: commpart@u.washington.edu  (they cannot guarantee the confidentiality of information sent via email)


 Phone: 206-221-3563 (you may leave a voicemail with your mailing address if you would like a questionnaire mailed to you)


Mailing address: Carolyn Baylor, Ph.D.,  Box 356490. Dept. of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA  98195.


Source for this information came from the MS Foundation



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"Providing You with 'MS Views and News', is what we do"

Keep Informed and up-to-date with information concerning

 Multiple Sclerosis when registered at

the MS Views and News website.

(This will take 20-25 seconds and will empower you

 with informaton and learning)

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The first case history of multiple sclerosis: Augustus d’Esté (1794–1848)

Information for this article was provided to me from Terence, who lives in Spain

The personal diary of Sir Augustus d’Esté, born 1794 grandson of King George III of England, reveals a medical history strongly suggesting that Augustus suffered from multiple sclerosis (MS). 


It could well be the first record of a person having this disease. 
Charcot coined the term sclérose en plaques 20 years after the death of this patient in 1848. 


The onset of this man’s MS seems to have been in 1822 with bilateral optic neuritis, the disease gradually developing in the classic manner with bouts derived from different loci in the central nervous system and eventually a secondary progressive form with paraparesis, sphincter incontinence, urinary problems and impotence. 


In 1941, Firth highlighted the case of Augustus d’Esté and later wrote a description of the pathology including a discussion on the aetiology of MS. No previous medical records have given such a characteristic picture of MS as this.

Review Article source




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"Providing You with 'MS Views and News', is what we do"

Keep Informed and up-to-date with information concerning

 Multiple Sclerosis when registered at

the MS Views and News website.

(This will take 20-25 seconds and will empower you

 with informaton and learning)

Thank you for allowing me to help to keep you informed

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Willing to wait; Woman with MS is wary of experimental new MS treatment

CORNER BROOK - GARY KEAN  - The Western Star

Last fall, Italian researcher Dr. Paolo Zamboni made headlines worldwide with his theory that multiple sclerosis may be caused by constricted veins in the neck, chest and spine.

According to the physician, the debilitating symptoms of MS could be relieved by opening up these narrowed passages to enhance blood flow through them.

Several people who had the procedure done reported quick recovery from their mobility, balance and other problems associated with MS.

While some believe he may be on to a long-awaited cure, Zamboni’s critics still have many questions related to the connection between the MS and Zamboni’s theory and the potential complications associated with the procedure he has proposed.

Stephanie Boland of Benoit’s Cove is one of those who are cautiously optimistic. She was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS, which is characterized by unpredictable yet clearly defined episodes, in 2008.

The 35-year-old social worker is just emerging from a debilitating flare-up. Earlier this year, she had to stop working and was practically bed-ridden for about two months until the symptoms began to subside.

Not convinced
Still, that unpleasant experience was not enough to convince her that Zamboni has the answer.

“If people said they were going to do a fundraiser for me and send me to get it done, I’d say ‘no, I’m not doing that,’” she said.

“My situation is not bad enough for me to consider something like that. The way I look at it is, if that (recent flare-up) is as bad as it gets, then I can handle it.”

Some people with MS have a progressive form of the disease. Their symptoms grow steadily worse with little or no relapse from their disability.

“I can see some people with progressive MS looking at it as a last resort  because they are scared and desperate for a cure, but I personally think there needs to be a lot more testing and research done yet,” said Boland.


CONTINUE READING


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Keep Informed and up-to-date with information concerning

 Multiple Sclerosis when registered at

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Quality of Life is Important - TREAT EARLY

Sunday - May 30, 2010

New patient assistance programme offers hope for a better quality of life with for those living with multiple sclerosis.

BAYER Schering Pharma recently launched a patient assistance programme to help more people with multiple sclerosis (MS) enjoy a better quality of life through early and continued treatment with interferon beta. The programme was introduced in conjunction with World MS Day 2010 on May 26.

The disease progresses through the years, affecting a person’s quality of life. Some may eventually develop severe and irreversible disabilities causing them to becoming totally paralysed, wheelchair-bound, and even blind.

Statistics suggest that one out of three people with MS may need a cane or other assistive device in their lifetime. People with MS may also suffer from depression. One study found that the risk of suicide was 7.5 times higher among people with MS than the general population.

The exact cause of MS is unknown. Research suggests that a combination of genetic and environmental factors are involved.

· Environmental factors: MS occurs with much greater frequency in higher latitudes away from the equator, than in lower latitudes, closer to the equator. Although it is unclear why, it is also thought that environmental factors, such as a bacteria or virus, may cause the destruction of myelin in animals and humans. Although many different viruses have been implicated in causing MS, no definitive proof has been able to link any one virus to the disease.

READ COMPLETE Article HERE

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"Providing You with 'MS Views and News', is what we do"

Keep Informed and up-to-date with information concerning

 Multiple Sclerosis when registered at

the MS Views and News website.

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 with informaton and learning)

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EMD Serono and Pfizer Inc., present "MS Voices"

In honor of World MS Day, EMD Serono and Pfizer Inc are very pleased to announce the launch of MS Voices (www.facebook.com/MSVoices), a new Facebook page for anyone who is living with MS or is a care partner, family member, friend or a supporter in the fight against MS.

The purpose of MS Voices is to provide an online meeting place for those who are impacted by MS and are looking to join with others for support, to participate in activities and exchange information.  The page will be regularly updated with such features as:

·         Monthly articles

·         Poll questions and answers from participants

·         A themed comment wall for participants to share their thoughts with friends in the MS community

·         A way to nominate someone for the Who’s Your LifeLine? recognition program, which honors inspirational individuals living with MS as well as others in the MS community

We encourage you to visit MS Voices and join the discussion

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"Providing You with 'MS Views and News', is what we do"

Keep Informed and up-to-date with information concerning

 Multiple Sclerosis when registered at

the MS Views and News website.

(This will take 20-25 seconds and will empower you

 with informaton and learning)

Thank you for allowing me to help to keep you informed

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