Hello friends --I'm psyched to tell you that the charity event that my husband and I participate in each year (On Course Fore A Cure for pediatric brain cancer) hit our goal: $1 million in 10 years! And the next day I crashed HARD. Lots of pain, tingling, numbness, vision issues, extreme fatigue, cog fog, shooting electric pains - all the good stuff. I've even had a brand new symptom show up for which I had an MRI this morning. YIPPEE!! Point being: be mindful when you're doing what you're doing that you're not overdoing.  UGH.  Let's get to the good stuff, lady. Quit yer bellyachin'1.  Just published a guest blog post by Laura Kolaczkowski  - all about how each of us could actually help find a cure for cancer and/or MS. Read it here: Cancer, MS, and More2.  Who else here is pissed off about this Measles bullshit? As if we don't have enough to contend with - now this??? Measles - Thought We Got Rid of You - What the Hell's Next?3.  I am hopeful with this next national election that our jacked up healthcare system will be the main issue that is discussed, debated, deliberated and dealt with. This is bullshit. The most vulnerable among our population are left dealing with this mess when we are least equipped to do so. Here's an article detailing the 20X increase in #MS meds in 12 years. MS Patients Now Pay 20 Times More For Drugs Than a Decade Ago (WTF??)4.  Scientists at Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, report they've found that human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) – also known as ancient viruses or fossil viruses – are involved in the central nervous system’s defensive response in multiple sclerosis. Huh?? Sounds important - and interesting - and confusing!!  Read more here: Ancient Virus and Fossil Viruses, Oh My!5.  "Higher exposure to Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) is associated with greater immune B-cell depletion in the blood, and lessened risk of disability progression in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive disease (PPMS), according to new research." Ocrevus is looking better and better to me. How about YOU??  Ocrevus Means Less Risk of Disability Progression in MS Patients6.  Happy Mother's Day!  Sunday is Mother's Day and in recognition of that - I'm adding a link to a video I did with my kids a few months back. I asked them questions about what it's like growing up with a parent with MS. I didn't ask them anything ahead of time - I wanted it to be honest and authentic and I wanted to react as I heard it. In the end, I'm very proud of my girls - and I believe that me having MS has added to their resourcefulness and empathy. It has shaped them - in a very good way. Whodathunk? Maggie Mae and Reagan

Warmly -- Kathy#FUMS

Sometimes it helps the stress, just to say "F-U-M-S"