MS Among Friends shares the good times and the bad

CONROE, Texas - Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week is March 7 through 13, and it’s comforting to know that families who have a loved one with MS are not alone, thanks to a group called MS Among Friends.

Formed by Jim Dinaso of Conroe, this interactive support group is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that not only provides support, but education, assistance, and resources, to help Multiple Sclerosis individuals and their families.

“The primary objective of MS Among friends, Inc. is to make a difference in the everyday lives of those whose lives are affected by Multiple Sclerosis, and their families,” Dinaso said.

According to Dinaso, Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that affects one’s ability to walk, think, and changes how one struggles to live their lives, but it also impacts the lives of parents, spouses, children, and extended family.

“It’s the most inconsistent disease out there,” said Dinaso. “Those suffering from MS don’t all have the same symptoms. Because of the variability and unpredictability of MS, it’s often misdiagnosed.”

The two dominant forms of MS are Relapsing and Remitting MS (RRMS) and Primary Progressive MS (PPMS):

RRMS is the most common form of the disease and is characterized by clearly defined acute attacks with full recovery, or with residual deficit upon recovery. Periods between disease relapses are characterized by a lack of disease progression. Approximately 85% of people diagnosed with MS begin with RRMS.

PPMS is the progression of disability from the onset, without remissions. Only 10% have PPMS, which is typically diagnosed only after the person is already living with significant disability.

According to Dinaso, MS sufferers may have more than one symptom at a time which can include memory problems, vision impairment, equilibrium, inability to regulate the body’s temperature, chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, motor speech disorder, just to name a few. Many sufferers experience multiple symptoms simultaneously, making MS the ‘perfect storm’ when it comes to diseases of the human body.

“Our biggest goal is to simply be there for our MS friends when they need us the most, during the hard times,” said Dinaso.

The organization can’t provide MS sufferers and their families what they need without some form of financial means. To raise some funds the organization will be planning a fundraiser April 9, so save the date. It will be an interactive event to get the MS individual involved in a fitness project, but one the family can participate in as well.

“It’s not my organization. It’s everybody banding together,” said Dinaso. “That’s what the fundraiser will be designed to do.”

The group’s website provides MS families with assistance, resources, support, all of which can be obtained from the organization's website at MS Among Friends. The group meets once a month and plans special events. See their events listed on the Calendar of the website.

“Our biggest goal is to simply be there for our MS friends when they need us the most, during the bad times,” said Dinaso.

Unfortunately for many MS sufferers, the bad times come more often than not. To assist MS Among Friends with their daunting task, you can make a donation by clicking on the donate button on any page of their website.