Hey friends --Well hello.  My name is Kathy and I have MS (is this an AA meeting??).  I've been absent for a bit. Sorry about that. I got a cold.  Just a little cold. But as you well know - a cold is never just a cold if you have MS.  Because MS is a jealous bastard, if your attention is anywhere else - it's going to "pop up" to regain your attention. And that's exactly what happened.  I had optic neuritis, cog fog, major fatigue and eventually - 2 weeks in - vertigo.  OK, OK MS.  Got it.  Pay attention to YOU!.🖕🏻Now that we've been re-introduced, let's get into what's going on in the world of MS:1.  It is Black History Month here in the U.S. so I'll be sharing some information specific to Black MS warriors. Did you know that some studies have suggested Black and Hispanic/Latinx people living with MS may experience more severe symptoms and greater physical disability than their White counterparts — yet they have been historically underdiagnosed and undertreated. 😡  Pharmaceutical company Genentech is doing something about it: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND RACE: CONFRONTING INEQUITIES2.  Leave it up to MS writer Ed Tobias to write an incredibly helpful article about the Able Savings Account - special savings accounts that allow disabled Americans, including people with MS, to save money without jeopardizing their public benefits such as Medicare, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and food stamps. Super interesting. A Primer on ABLE Accounts for Americans With Disabilities3.  Not only is an MS diagnosis tough to swallow, MS can literally make it - tough to swallow. And that can lead to life-threatening situations.  Swallowing problems are common for MS patients4.  🎶 Oh Canada 🎶  🇨🇦 - you lucky buggers.  To support the wellness journeys of Canadians living with MS, digital healthcare company Sesh is partnering with MS Canada to provide free, unlimited access to its online mental health platform. Sesh, MS Canada partner to help MS patients with mental health5.  Now this is a novel approach:  FibroBiologics has launched an online crowdfunding campaign to support the development of potential therapies in the company’s pipeline and advance its clinical programs in MS and other diseases.  Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for MS, Other Clinical Programs6.  Depression among people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been estimated to be about three times more common than in the general population.  Let's let that one sink in for a minute.  Brain Network Analysis Reveals a Depression – Multiple Sclerosis ConnectionThat's all folks.  It feels good to be "back"! Thanks so much for all the messages checking on me. I really appreciate you!Warmly -- Kathy#FUMSP.S. If you would PLEASE do me a favor: If you've been hospitalized due to an MS relapse/flare, please hit reply to this email and share your story with me. I need to know how long ago it was, the reason you were hospitalized as opposed to either treated in clinic or at home, and how many times you've been hospitalized over the course of your life with MS. I'm researching why some people are treated for relapse in the hospital and some are not.  Thanks so much for your help.

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