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400,000 Americans, Including Tarah Virgil ( Larry and Debby Berkovich's Daughter ) are living with this disease. They do not have good days and bad days... they have good minutes and bad minutes !!
TARAH BERKOVICH-VIRGIL HAS BEEN NAMED THE 2007 SNOHOMISH CO. MS WALK HONOREE !!!
SHE WILL BE FEATURED IN LOCAL PRESS AND WILL BE GIVING A SPEECH ABOUT HER STORY, LIVING WITH MS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MS WALK APRIL 14TH 2007 AT THE TULALIP AMPITHEATRE.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, potentially debilitating disease that affects the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Doctors and researchers think the illness is probably an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system attacks part of your body as if it's a foreign substance.
In multiple sclerosis, the body incorrectly directs antibodies and white blood cells against proteins in the myelin sheath, which surrounds nerves in your brain and spinal cord. This causes inflammation and injury to the sheath and ultimately to the nerves that it surrounds. The result may be multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis). Eventually, this damage can slow or block the nerve signals that control muscle coordination, strength, sensation and vision.
Multiple sclerosis affects more than 1 million people around the world - including twice as many women as men. Most people experience their first symptoms between ages 20 and 40. This disease is unpredictable and varies in severity. In some people, MS is a mild illness, but, for others, it results in permanent disability. Treatments can modify the course of the disease and relieve symptoms.
If you or someone close to you has recently been given a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. Or, you may be feeling so overwhelmed by the diagnosis that you aren’t sure what kinds of questions to ask. The National MS Society has developed programs to give you the information and support you need to live comfortably and confidently with this change in your life.
Multiple sclerosis affects not only the person with the illness, but everyone who cares about that individual as well. Learning to balance MS in relationships with family and children, dating partners, and caregivers is important to overall well-being.
About 15% of people with MS have a more progressive disease course from the start. Some never have any attacks but worsen slowly from the onset of their MS, experiencing symptoms such as tremor, poor coordination, difficulty walking, and other problems. Others have attacks followed by incomplete recovery of function. The residual losses build over time.
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THE NEXT MS WALK IN WASHINGTON WILL BE APRIL 14th 2007. LAST YEAR TEAM TARAH RAISED OVER $6,000.00 ... WE HOPE TO DOUBLE THAT AMOUNT THIS YEAR, WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME NEW WALKERS AND NEW SPONSORS !!! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE EMAIL TARAH AT TARAHVIRGIL@HOTMAIL.COM | 
Four Disease Courses Have Been Identified in MS
• Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) is the most common form of the disease. ( THIS IS WHAT TARAH HAS ) It is characterized by clearly defined acute attacks with full recovery (1a) or with residual deficit upon recovery (1b). Periods between disease relapses are characterized by a lack of disease progression. Approximately 85% of people with MS begin with a relapsing-remitting course.
• Primary Progressive MS (PPMS) PPMS is characterized by progression of disability from onset, without plateaus or remissions (2a) or with occasional plateaus and temporary minor improvements (2b). A person with PPMS, by definition, does not experience acute attacks. Of people with MS are diagnosed, only 10% have PPMS. In addition, the diagnostic criteria for PPMS are less secure than those for RRMS so that often the diagnosis is only made long after the onset of neurological symptoms and at a time when the person is already living with significant disability.
• Secondary-Progressive MS (SPMS) SPMS begins with an initial relapsing-remitting disease course, followed by progression of disability (3a) that may include occasional relapses and minor remissions and plateaus (3b). Typically, secondary-progressive disease is characterized by: less recovery following attacks, persistently worsening functioning during and between attacks, and/or fewer and fewer attacks (or none at all) accompanied by progressive disability. According to some natural history studies, of the 85% who start with relapsing-remitting disease, more than 50% will develop SPMS within 10 years; 90% within 25 years. More recent natural history studies (perhaps because of the use of MRI to assist in the diagnosis) suggest a more benign outlook that these numbers suggest. Nevertheless, many patients with RRMS do develop SPMS ultimately.
• Progressive-Relapsing MS (PRMS) PRMS, which is the least common disease course, shows progression of disability from onset but with clear acute relapses, with (4a) or without (4b) full recovery. Approximately 5% of people with MS appear to have PRMS at diagnosis. Not infrequently a patient may be initially diagnosed as having PPMS and then will experience an acute attack, thereby establishing the diagnosis of PRMS.
KEEP S'MYLIN
Keep S'myelin is a colorful newsletter filled with stories, interviews, games, and activities that highlight a variety of topics about multiple sclerosis.
Keep S'mylin is a special newletter for young children and teens that explains the Disease in terms they understand, MANY Parents find it a very Beneficial read as well ...
Issue are available in an interactive online version (Flash), or original printed version (PDF).
For free copies of printed issues call :
1 * 800 * FIGHT * MS
(1-800-344-4867)
WE WON'T KNOW IF SHE HAS MS UNTIL SHE'S IN HER 20'S .......
- THIS IS WHY WE WALK -
** TEAM TARAH **
1 * 800 * FIGHT * MS
GREATER WASHINGTON CHAPTER
NATIONAL MS SOCIETY
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Workplace giving programs provide an easy way for you to contribute to the fight against MS. Simply sign up to have a portion of your salary dedicated to the MS cause on a regular basis.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society proudly partners with Community Health Charities, the largest workplace giving program devoted solely to health, in the Public and Private Sectors of the Employee Giving Campaigns. If you don't find us, ask your employer to add our name.
Public Sector/Government Employees
Support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) by selecting the designated code number: 0549.
Also, be sure to look for the National MS Society on the designation lists for your state, city, county, or school employee giving campaigns!
Private Sector
Your company may have its own Corporate Employee Gift Program or participate in United Way. In some areas, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society participates in the United Way. If not, ask if you can designate to the National MS Society under the Donor Designation Program.
Matching Gift Fund
Does your employer have a matching gift fund? If so, be sure to speak to them about matching your gift to the National MS Society
All gifts made to the National MS Society through workplace giving are tax deductible.
For more information on programs in your area, please contact your chapter.
TEAM TARAH- CAPTAIN: TARAH VIRGIL
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Greater Washington
192 Nickerson Street, Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 284-4236
Phone: 1 - 800 FIGHT MS (344-4867)
Email: greaterwainfo@nmsswas.org
Website: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/was
Chapter Contact(s)
KRISTEN HESSE ( Works directly with our TEAM )
Patty Shepherd-Barnes, President
Erin Poznanski, Director of Chapter Programs
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ABOUT THIS CHAPTER
The Greater Washington Chapter serves 23 counties in Western and Central Washington and provides support to more than 50,000 people, including 7,500 with MS and nearly 40,000 others whose lives are directly impacted (ranging from spouses, children and relatives to friends, co-workers and caregivers). Our Chapter programs include information and referral, educational seminars, self-help groups, and financial assistance for counseling, durable medical equipment and fitness scholarships. We also fund national research efforts to discover the cause and cure for multipls Sclerosis |
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It's Easy to Contribute to the MS Cause
- Combined Federal Campaign
Code number: 0549
- Corporate Employee Gift Program
- United Way
Simply select or designate the National MS Society. |
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1 * 800 * FIGHT * MS
( 1-800-344-4867 )
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