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A listener’s story becomes a conversation about autonomy, dignity, and what it means to choose your own ending. If you or someone you love is living with MS, facing relentless decline, or trying to understand Canada’s MAiD program, this episode is one you need to hear.
Nix and Terry open the door to a deeply personal conversation with Karim Daya, a longtime member of the 4t Below Zero community who has become more than a listener - he’s family. For the first time, Karim shares the full arc of his life with MS: the early warning signs, the long road to a primary progressive diagnosis, the gradual loss of mobility, and the daily realities that now include a PSW, a wheelchair, catheter use, and the constant calculations of energy conservation, heat management, and a maintenance of dignity.
You’ll hear Karim break down how he was assessed for MAiD in Canada, what “Tracks 1 & 2” mean, how the process changed when his “end of life” was later judged to be foreseeable, and why having two independent doctors confirm what he already knew brought both relief and clarity. He also explains the waiver of consent, what happens if he loses capacity, and why this decision is about far more than medicine - it’s about preserving agency before MS takes that away.
Nix and Terry bring what only they can bring: lived experience, blunt honesty, and the kind of trust that lets a guest speak without armor. They ask the questions most people are afraid to ask, while Karim answers with calm, candor, and heartbreaking perspective about family, caregiver fatigue, marriage, identity, and waiting too long to say what needs to be said
You’ll also discover the unexpected life behind the diagnosis - Karim’s journey from Nairobi to England to Canada, the racism and culture shock he faced, the career he built in EMS and dispatch, the support groups that finally made him feel seen, and the friendships that helped him manage a fight nobody else could fully understand.
This is not a debate. It’s a rare, unflinching conversation about MS, MAiD, and the hard truth that sometimes the toughest choice is the one made with eyes wide open. Essential listening for anyone navigating progressive illness, caregiving, or the impossible decisions that come with both.
#MultipleSclerosis #LivingWithMS #ProgressiveMS #MSCommunity #Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #Dignity #Autonomy #EndOfLifeCare #MAID #PatientStories #40BelowZero
✅ Thank you to all of our Warriors and supporters for listening! You can reach us at: [email protected]
✔ Instagram: @4tbelowzero
✔ TikTok: @4tbelowzero
👉 Hope you enjoy the video. If you do, don't forget to like and subscribe 😊
Copyright Disclaimer 👇
Disclaimer- Some contents are used for educational purposes under fair use. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
MS is changing fast, and this conversation puts that progress—and the realities of living with the disease—into sharp focus. From a major campaign to accelerate MS research to the everyday challenges of stuttering, fatigue, and balance issues, this episode explores what the fight against multiple sclerosis looks like today.
Nick and Terry open with an update on the National MS Society and the broader MS research movement, including a campaign to accelerate breakthroughs, expand access to care, and work toward a future free of MS. They discuss why advocacy, funding, and collaboration matter now more than ever.
Then Jeff Gross joins the conversation for an honest look at how MS affects daily life. Jeff shares how lesions affected his speech, how a stutter changed the way people responded to him, and why dating, serious conversations, and even simple movement can become challenging. He also talks about the emotional weight of diagnosis and the persistence it takes to keep going.
TikTok & Instagram accounts
@multiple_sclerooking
https://www.tiktok.com/@multiple_sclerooking
https://www.instagram.com/multiple_sclerooking
#MultipleSclerosis #MSAwareness #LivingWithMS #ChronicIllness #MSCommunity
✅ Thank you to all of our Warriors and supporters for listening! You can reach us at: [email protected]
✔ Instagram: @4tbelowzero
✔ TikTok: @4tbelowzero
👉 Hope you enjoy the video. If you do, don't forget to like and subscribe 😊
Copyright Disclaimer 👇
Disclaimer- Some contents are used for educational purposes under fair use. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
Some people get one diagnosis. Amanda has survived cancer, transverse myelitis, MS, NMO, POTS, liver disease, and a life that has kept demanding more—and she’s still here, still laughing, and still building a way to help others do the same.
Her story is the kind that stops a room. After a rare pancreatic cancer diagnosis, doctors found more than they expected, and what followed was a brutal chain of surgeries, symptoms, misfires, and new answers that kept arriving years apart. If you’ve ever felt like your body has become a mystery you can’t solve, this conversation will hit hard.
Terry and Nick talk with Amanda about what it means to live in fight-or-flight for years, how trauma and chronic illness collide, and why her friends call her a unicorn. She opens up about losing her mom to colon cancer, raising a family through repeated medical crises, and finding out that the thing that saved her from one diagnosis may have been the reason another one was finally caught.
Amanda's TikTok account:
https://www.tiktok.com/@dickinsonamanda83
#InvisibleIllness #MSCommunity #ChronicIllness #Resilience #SupportGroups
✅ Thank you to all of our Warriors and supporters for listening! You can reach us at: [email protected]
✔ Instagram: @4tbelowzero
✔ TikTok: @4tbelowzero
👉 Hope you enjoy the video. If you do, don't forget to like and subscribe 😊
Copyright Disclaimer 👇
Disclaimer- Some contents are used for educational purposes under fair use. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
Ricky is a nurse, father of three, and MS advocate in southern Germany. In this conversation, he shares how a blurry eye exam led to a same-day MRI—and a life-changing diagnosis.
After his 2012 diagnosis, Ricky adapted to changes in mobility while continuing to show up for his family and patients. He reflects on going public with his MS in 2020, how his children supported him, and why he now focuses on what he can do rather than what he can’t.
Ricky also discusses living with MS in Germany, including navigating treatment and access to care. Alongside Nix and Terry, he explores invisible symptoms, the pressure to appear “fine,” concerns about genetics, and the relief that can come from no longer hiding a disability.
An honest conversation about MS, fatherhood, identity, and finding ways to move forward.
Instagram account: @my_story_cant_stop_me
https://www.instagram.com/my_story_cant_stop_me/
#MSAwareness #DisabilityVisibility #MensMentalHealth #AccessibleHealthcare #Fatherhood
✅ Thank you to all of our Warriors and supporters for listening! You can reach us at: [email protected]
✔ Instagram: @4tbelowzero
✔ TikTok: @4tbelowzero
👉 Hope you enjoy the video. If you do, don't forget to like and subscribe 😊
Copyright Disclaimer 👇
Disclaimer- Some contents are used for educational purposes under fair use. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
Terry and Nick sit down with Thrax, also known as Tariq, for a raw conversation about living with multiple sclerosis, the frustration of being judged when you don’t “look sick,” and the mental weight of trying to keep going. Thrax shares how MS changed his work, mobility, relationships, and confidence, then opens up about meningitis, a coma, disability denials, and the daily effort it takes to keep life moving.
TikTok account
https://www.tiktok.com/@thrax2058
A guest on MSMichiganMan64 Podcast. Hosted by Brian Wallace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgsBR_VAmgE&t=9s
#MultipleSclerosis #MSAwareness #InvisibleIllness #LivingWithMS #ChronicIllness #MSCommunity #DisabilityAwareness #Thrax #Tariq #Meningitis
✅ Thank you to all of our Warriors and supporters for listening! You can reach us at: [email protected]
✔ Instagram: @4tbelowzero
✔ TikTok: @4tbelowzero
👉 Hope you enjoy the video. If you do, don't forget to like and subscribe 😊
Copyright Disclaimer 👇
Disclaimer- Some contents are used for educational purposes under fair use. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
Black men with MS are building their own support system, and Quanta Dunn is leading the charge. His story starts with a sudden blackout in the sunlight, a life-changing diagnosis in 2014, and years of pushing through pain, fatigue, and invisible symptoms before the disease finally forced everything to change.
On this episode, Nix and Terry talk with Q about the moment he realized something was seriously wrong, the confusing early days after his MS diagnosis, and the brutal emotional hit of turning in his uniform and walking away from the career that once defined him. He shares what it felt like to be told to resign and apply for disability, how his kids saw his weakest moment, and why the transition from “I’m fine” to “I need help” is harder than most people understand.
Nix and Terry bring their own lived experience into the conversation, connecting Q’s journey to the grief of losing a career identity, the stigma around mobility aids, and the daily reality of figuring out which version of yourself shows up that day. It’s honest, funny, raw, and deeply relatable for anyone who has ever had to rebuild life after a diagnosis.
Q also opens up about his mission to take support global, the power of being seen by people who look like you, and why listening without assumptions is one of the most important forms of care. If you need encouragement, perspective, or proof that community can be built from the hardest places, this one belongs in your queue.
Quanta Dunn, known online as Q, hosts support groups for Black men living with MS and is building the Living With MS Foundation. He’s turning lived experience into leadership, creating spaces where people can be heard, understood, and supported.
Essential listening if you live with MS, love someone who does, or want to understand what real support looks like when life changes overnight.
Snap: tha_dunn
IG: tha_dunn
TikTok: qdunn23
https://www.tiktok.com/@qdunn23?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
#MultipleSclerosis #MSAwareness #LivingWithMS #MSCommunity #BlackMenWithMS #ChronicIllness #InvisibleIllness #DisabilityAwareness #MobilityAid #MSSupport #ChronicIllnessCommunity #SupportGroups #QuantaDunn #MSPodcast #FortyBelowZero
✅ Thank you to all of our Warriors and supporters for listening! You can reach us at: [email protected]
✔ Instagram: @4tbelowzero
✔ TikTok: @4tbelowzero
👉 Hope you enjoy the video. If you do, don't forget to like and subscribe 😊
Copyright Disclaimer 👇
Disclaimer- Some contents are used for educational purposes under fair use. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
The hidden cost of emergency care is getting pushed onto residents, and it is changing how whole towns pay for ambulances. Nix and Terry break down the new local authority model, why $85 to $95 a year is only the beginning, and what happens when hospital systems disappear from the equation.
They also get into the absurdly tactical look of modern EMS vehicles, the strange politics of uniforms, and why emergency responders should be visible, not camouflaged in SWAT-style gear. But the conversation does not stop at healthcare billing.
Terry opens up about a medication timing mistake that left him crashing hard in the middle of the day, while Nix shares the reality of living with MS, managing nerve pain, and trying to make sense of what actually helps. If you have ever wondered whether your fatigue is just fatigue or something more, this part hits hard.
Then Michele joins the show and turns the episode into something even bigger. She breaks down the TIME program, a community-based movement and exercise series for people living with MS, and explains how it creates a safe place to stay active, connect, and not disappear into isolation. She also talks about being on Global News, working with A and W on the Burger for MS partnership, and the practical mobility hacks that make everyday life possible—from custom shoe lifts to adaptive rehab support.
As a person living with MS I am passionate about research and finding ways to change this disease. I want to share my story with you. I have been interviewed by Post Media on MS and a potential relation to EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) that questions if that could trigger the "cause" of MS.
https://www.healthing.ca/multiple-sclerosis/epstein-barr-virus-multiple-sclerosis-michelle-clarke
Media Interviews on Global News, CTV News, and City TV. https://globalnews.ca/video/9727653/ms-walks-raising-awareness-across-canada
Please help take action and #ENDMS. Thank you.
https://globalnews.ca/video/12028902/health-matters-burgers-to-beat-ms
https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/video/2025/05/22/supporting-the-fight-against-multiple-sclerosis/
https://globalnews.ca/video/10527960/a-day-in-the-life-of-someone-living-with-multiple-sclerosis
#MSAwareness #MultipleSclerosis #LivingWithMS #DisabilityAwareness #ChronicIllness #MobilityMatters #MSCommunity #Accessibility #Healthcare #PatientAdvocacy #TIMEProgram #MSWarrior #InvisibleIllness #AdaptiveEquipment #YouTubePodcast
✅ Thank you to all of our Warriors and supporters for listening! You can reach us at: [email protected]
✔ Instagram: @4tbelowzero
✔ TikTok: @4tbelowzero
👉 Hope you enjoy the video. If you do, don't forget to like and subscribe 😊
Copyright Disclaimer 👇
Disclaimer- Some contents are used for educational purposes under fair use. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
The Brutal Reality of Living With MOGAD, Disability, and Hope
Larry’s MOGAD story, MS overlap, and life after major medical setbacks
Terry and Nix open with a candid reflection on how closely MOGAD can resemble MS, then bring on Larry to explain his diagnosis, treatment, and daily reality. This conversation matters because it shows how easily neurological conditions can be confused, why self-advocacy matters, and how someone can rebuild life after repeated medical crises.
In this episode, Larry shares a deeply personal history that includes childhood tracheotomy care, years of throat surgeries, a recent MOGAD attack, rehab, and the ongoing work of managing a spinal injury and bladder dysfunction.
Key topics
Larry explains that MOGAD can look a lot like MS, but the key difference is a specific protein marker that helps doctors identify it.
Nix shares his own experience with the diagnostic gray areas around MS, including concerns about gadolinium exposure after many MRIs.
Larry describes the first signs of his attack in July, starting with urinary retention, leg weakness, and a rapid loss of mobility.
He walks through the emergency room experience, including a bladder catheterization that drained an unusually large volume of urine.
Larry details the hospital isolation precautions, extensive blood work, and the uncertainty of the first few days before diagnosis.
He explains plasmapheresis, how many treatments he received, and how the procedure helped after the attack.
The conversation covers transverse myelitis, spinal inflammation from T2 to T10, and the resulting loss of bladder and bowel control.
Larry reflects on the emotional side of rehabilitation, including learning to walk again and pushing his rehab team to help him regain function.
He shares his long medical backstory, including a tracheotomy from childhood, over 200 throat operations, and a year without speaking.
Larry talks about living with permanent damage, self-catheterization, frequent urinary urgency, and adapting to a new normal.
He also reveals he has been approved for MAID, while stressing that he is not sharing it for pity and is focused on education, planning, and advocacy.
The episode ends on a hopeful note with gratitude, awareness, and a commitment to keep sharing his story.
#MOGAD
#MultipleSclerosis
#ChronicIllness
#RareDisease
#PatientAdvocacy
✅ Thank you to all of our Warriors and supporters for listening! You can reach us at: [email protected]
✔ Instagram: @4tbelowzero
✔ TikTok: @4tbelowzero
👉 Hope you enjoy the video. If you do, don't forget to like and subscribe 😊
Copyright Disclaimer 👇
Disclaimer- Some contents are used for educational purposes under fair use. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
Adam Powell on rebuilding life after a fast, aggressive MS diagnosis
This episode features Terry, NIX, and guest Adam Powell, who shares how a devastating primary progressive MS diagnosis reshaped his life in months, not years. Adam explains how he went from a strong, independent UPS supervisor to wheelchair use, then slowly rebuilt independence through physical therapy, adaptive tools, and sheer persistence.
We discuss the realities of early diagnosis, the emotional toll of losing function, and how Adam turned that experience into support groups, fundraising, public speaking, and a growing MS-focused personal brand.
Key topics
Adam shares his diagnosis story, starting with foot pain and numb legs in late 2018 and a primary progressive MS diagnosis in June 2019.
We discuss how his early symptoms were mistaken for a hernia and later a sports hernia before a physical therapist suggested neurology and possible MS.
Adam explains how a bad first doctor left him with poor follow-up, insurance problems, and confusion about disability, Medicaid, and work status.
In this episode, Adam describes a crushing period in early 2020 when stress, isolation, and untreated uncertainty worsened his mobility loss.
He shares the mindset shift where he says he had to “kill off” his old self, grieve who he used to be, and accept a new identity to keep moving forward.
We discuss the practical rehab path that followed - walker, knee braces, AFOs, cane, and eventually trekking poles - and how each step helped and hurt in different ways.
Adam talks about regaining independence through hand controls, driving again, and taking a solo cross-country trip that included Montana, California, Colorado, and several national parks.
He shares how support from family, especially his parents and his mom, helped him through the hardest months.
We discuss his MS tattoos, including “fuck MS,” “MS Warrior,” “unstoppable,” and his own branded logo.
Adam explains how Yoga Moves Anybody helped him connect with other people living with MS and build community beyond his own experience.
He breaks down his fundraising work, including shirts, motorcycle runs, raffles, a church-based tattoo event, and more than $70,000 raised for the MS Society over five years.
Adam shares how his support efforts evolved into public speaking, podcasting, and an online “newbie meeting” for people newly diagnosed with MS.
Notable quotes
“I had to kill my old self.”
“That was the deepest, darkest, hardest time of this disease.”
“I’m so proud of myself that I’m walking.”
If you are newly diagnosed, Adam recommends joining support groups and trying multiple groups until you find the right fit.
He encourages people to keep showing up, even when progress is slow or uneven.
He suggests using whatever mobility tools help you live more fully, including wheelchairs when needed.
If you want to join his newbie meeting, Adam says it runs on the second Thursday of every month at 8 PM Eastern.
✅ Thank you to all of our Warriors and supporters for listening! You can reach us at: [email protected]
✔ Instagram: @4tbelowzero
✔ TikTok: @4tbelowzero
👉 Hope you enjoy the video. If you do, don't forget to like and subscribe 😊
#MultipleSclerosis
#MSAwareness
#DisabilityAwareness
#ChronicIllness
#Inspiration
Copyright Disclaimer 👇
Disclaimer- Some contents are used for educational purposes under fair use. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
Imagine living with voices in your head that everyone thinks are just signs of violence or unpredictability—yet you're an artist, advocate, and everyday person fighting to redefine what's possible. Michelle Hammer, a mental health advocate and founder of Schizophrenic NYC, shares her personal story of diagnosis, the misconceptions she faced, and how art and advocacy became her healing tools. Her narrative shatters the damaging myths that surround schizophrenia, revealing that people with the condition are not only normal but often extra creative and resilient.
In this episode, you'll discover:
How schizophrenia is diagnosed and the early signs to watch for—based on Michelle’s real-life experiences starting at age nine.
Common misconceptions: Why schizophrenia is unfairly portrayed as violent or dangerous, and what the truth really is.
Unique ways people with schizophrenia, like Michelle, turn adversity into advocacy—using art, fashion, and community dialogue.
The importance of challenging stereotypes—how understanding and open conversations can reduce stigma and foster empathy.
The role of medication, triggers, and self-management—straight from someone who lives it daily and does so with strength and humor.
Why does this episode matter? Because misconceptions can cost lives and relationships—yet awareness and compassion can transform perceptions and empower those affected. Michelle’s approach underscores that mental health issues are part of the human experience, not a label that defines us or diminishes our talents.
Perfect for advocates, educators, healthcare providers, or anyone curious about mental health—this is your chance to hear honesty, humor, and hope from someone living with schizophrenia. Whether you’re looking to support loved ones or deepen your understanding, this episode offers an eye-opening perspective on breaking barriers and embracing human diversity.
Join us in redefining mental health narratives—listen now to learn, unlearn, and grow.
Support Michelle’s mission at Schizophrenic NYC and help spread awareness.
Resources & Links:
Schizophrenic NYC - Michelle’s clothing line promoting mental health awareness
https://www.schizophrenic.nyc/
American Psychiatric Association - Medical organization supporting mental illness research & guidelines
https://www.psychiatry.org/
Schizophrenia Society of Canada - Canadian organization dedicated to research and support
https://schizophrenia.ca/
Michelle Hammer - Social Media - Follow Michelle’s advocacy and artwork
Connect with Michelle Hammer:
https://www.instagram.com/schizophrenic.nyc/
Thank you for listening and supporting mental health awareness. Share this episode to help break down stigma and foster understanding.
✅ Thank you to all of our Warriors and supporters for listening! You can reach us at: [email protected]
✔ Instagram: @4tbelowzero
✔ TikTok: @4tbelowzero
👉 Hope you enjoy the video. If you do, don't forget to like and subscribe 😊
#MentalHealthMatters #SchizophreniaAwareness #BreakTheStigma #RepresentationMatters #AdvocateInAction
Copyright Disclaimer 👇
Disclaimer- Some contents are used for educational purposes under fair use. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
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