Kristin is a retired United States Navy vet that served for the United States Navy Band in Washington DC for 20 years. Kristin went to college at Northwestern University and was an opera major that, after graduation, auditioned for the US Navy Band and her military career began. Kristin has sung for four Presidents and has sung for numerous Presidential functions at the Whitehouse. Kristin and I talk about our common bond we have graduating from Big Ten Universities and how she sang for President Gerald Ford's funeral and I had the opportunity to meet the President in 1988 before I played in the 1989 Rose Bowl.

In 2010, only halfway through her 20 year military career, Kristin began experiencing her symptoms while training for a triathlon. Kristin tried DMT's early in her diagnosis but didn't like the way they made her feel so she decided to come off her DMT and fight naturally. In 2017 Kristin had a severe relapse where she experienced the MS hug and couldn't feel anything from the waist down. Kristin then had to make the decision to go back on a DMT so she could try to make it to a full military retirement.

Kristin and I talk about how she handled the diagnosis and she explains how it helped having a mother-in-law that was diagnosed with MS, and her family was the care giver, giving her an understanding about the disease. We talk about how we look for positives even after diagnosis because you have to continue fighting.

Kristin also talks about her current journey with fighting breast cancer diagnosis in December of 2024 and had a bilateral mastectomy on February 5 2025. Kristin now has no choice to go through chemotherapy in order to have the best survival rate. We also talk about how she feels her DMT's may have possibly led to her breast cancer diagnosis because of side effects.

We also get into a great discussion on the importance of exercise and nutrition while battling MS and the importance of family support. Kristin also explains how she has learned how to except help from family and friends as she progressed.

Kristin still is able to sing even with her MS and she now continues to use her gift of singing after retirement because you have to use it before yo lose it. Kristin is so inspirational with how she attacks and manages her MS and cancer fight.

Check Kristin's beautiful voice out at:

https://open.spotify.com/track/2dQFaC5ZjNRpHI6CFlx4N0?si=YLHd7vp5TjeosKREdgtm_g&context=spotify%3Atrack%3A24QesMLuuIjGOBXuN18K5Q

https://open.spotify.com/album/1o4qlqKpUX1TBiPb0TrsiH?si=Cb6NHr-dQFaN1c_kVgDpyQ

https://music.apple.com/us/album/o-salutaris-hostia/1719841369?i=1719841376

https://youtu.be/nadn0cRaye4

https://youtu.be/chKB9Fo8ICo

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Liliana is an MSer from Columbia and has been in the USA since she was 12 years old. Liliana has had medical issues her entire life including infections and other auto immune issues. Liliana battled symptoms her entire life and was even diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. Liliana ran from her symptoms blaming her issues on something else until she went through menopause and then had Covid five times. Liliana explains how she advocated for herself in order to get her diagnosis of PPMS in 2023.

Liliana and I talk about a number of topics like mental health, exercise, DMT's as well as our relationships and friends dealing with MS. We talk about how we fight and what motivates us to keep going with this disease. Liliana talks about tricks she has to fight this disease like putting salt under her tongue for energy.

Liliana has such a passion to help people battling MS she started a FaceBook group called Multiple Sclerosis Rebels (MSR) that has gained 7,900 members in 11 months that is the best MS FaceBook page I have seen out there. She is so up front with everyone on that page and wants to promote positivity while battling this tough disease.

I literally could have talked to Liliana for hours she is just so amazing with her journey and how she just stays so positive. Liliana is just so inspirational with how she turns everything in her life into a positive.

Thank you so much Liliana for sitting down and talking to me about your MS journey! You are a warrior and nothing is ever going to take you out!

Join Liliana's FaceBook page @Multiple Sclerosis Rebels (MSR)

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Jonathan is a registered nurse from the state of Massachusetts that was diagnosed with MS in 2022. Jonathan is the Director of Operations with the Department of Mental Health, inpatient mental health services, for the State of Massachusetts. Jonathan talks about how he went from the clinical side helping others to the one who needed the help dealing with his diagnosis.

Jonathan talks about his journey getting his diagnosis and the misdiagnosis's he went through, partly because he was experienced as a healthcare professional, and also, because he was running from the disease. He talks about how he battled with his mental health and how he handled the diagnosis.

Jonathan and I have a great discussion on how important it is to address your mental health and how the mental part can be more difficult than you can think. Jonathan explains how he had to reset and make the necessary adjustments to help his mental health and uses scuba diving as his tool for therapy.

Jonathan also talks about support and how important your family and friends are excepting and understanding the disease. We also talk about how important it is to find something something that interests you to use as a release.

Jonathan and I also get into an amazing conversation about advocating for yourself and he, as a healthcare professional, advises how to do it. He also discusses how important it is to track your symptoms and have the information for your doctors.

Jonathan, thank you so much for sitting down and talking to me and utilizing your expertise and experience as a mental health RN! You are filled with so much valuable information and I appreciate you wanting to help people understand MS and the mental health part of the disease.

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Phillip is an MSer from North Carolina that went through, what he thought was vertigo and vision problems in 2023, but actually was the start of his MS journey and diagnosis in 2024. Phillip explains how he didn't know what MS was when he was diagnosed and how he did his own research, with the help of his wife Jessica, to learn about the disease and accept his diagnosis.

Phillip and I have a great conversation about how important it is to not feel sorry for yourself after being diagnosed and how we fight day by day. We also talk about how the diagnosis affects our spouse and he tells me how his wife Jessica attacked Phillip's diagnosis and supports him. We discuss the importance of having a good support system of family and friends to battle this disease.

Phillip also discusses his DMT, Briumvi, and how he is doing with his first DMT, then we get into an excellent conversation about Phillip's attitude on how he's gonna kick MS's ass and figure shit out!

Phillip, thank you so much my friend, for taking time to help me spread awareness about MS. You have an awesome attitude and you also have an amazing wife, Jessica, to support you through your journey! Keep fighting the fight 100 Proof! You got this!

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I sit down with Philip, a warrior from England, that was recently diagnosed with MS in 2023 after he was having back issues. The physio he saw was concerned with his symptoms and referred him to a neurologist. Tests revealed lesions and his diagnosis at the age of 37. We talk about how he handled the diagnosis mentally being that he had no prior knowledge of the disease and the fear he had.

We have a discussion about the differences in medical treatment from the UK and the USA and how our MS teams respond to us and his DMT journey. Philip also discusses how he is learning about the disease and how overwhelmed he is sometimes.

Philip and I talk about difficulties in getting family and friends to understand when we don't understand early in diagnosis. We also talk about how this disease affects our employment and the tools we use to occupy our time because of not being able to work like we use to.

We also have an awesome discussion towards the end about how society looks at us and the insecurities of using a mobility aid in public. Philip finishes with how he is attacking this disease and figuring it out like all of us do because MSers figure shit out!

Thank you so much Philip for taking the time to sit down with me and helping me spread awareness about what it's like living with MS! YOU GOT THIS BROTHER!

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Glenda is an MS Warrior from Florida that was diagnosed in 2023 at the age of 37 after she had severe numbness on the left side of he body for two weeks. She went to the ER after having terrible nerve pain while showering. The ER ordered an MRI and she was immediately told she had MS. Glenda had no knowledge of what MS was and after doing what most would do and using the internet, she feared her future..

We talk about the mental part of our disease and how the diagnosis affects our employment and the choice Glenda made to step away from work to concentrate and her mental and physical health. We also get into a great discussion about how society sees us with an invisible disease.

Glenda talks about how her family accepted her diagnoses and how her husband took it upon himself to educate himself as much as possible about MS so he could be the best support he could be.

Glenda is absolutely amazing to talk with and her attitude of how she is attacking MS is just incredible. Thank you so much Glenda for helping to spread awareness about what it's like living with MS!

Ps : You have a beautiful voice Glenda! Never stop singing my fellow MS Warrior!!

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Kathy is an MS warrior and personal trainer from Michigan that was diagnosed 26 years ago. Kathy and I talk about how she grew up with a love for sports and exercise and also developed a passion for working with disabled people. Kathy explains how she used her passion to create MS Disrupted which is an exercise program designed for people with mobility issues like us MSers. We discuss the importance of exercise with us that struggle with mobility.

Kathy and I also talk about the reality of chronic disease warriors and abusive relationships. Kathy was just physically abused and left her husband in December of 2024. Kathy shares her story about how she was manipulated for years and ended up being physically assaulted by her husband breaking 3 of her ribs.

Kathy you are one of the strongest MS Warriors I have met in my 27 years of fighting MS! Thank you so much for helping me spread awareness of what its like living with MS.

Follow Kathy on her website MSDISRUPTED.COM and MOVE IT OR LOSE IT Podcast.

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Jan was diagnosed with pheochromocytoma, a tumor of the adrenal glands which sits on top of the kidney. These glands produce hormones that helps control heart rate, blood pressure and stress responses. When the tumor develops, it causes the body to to release too many stress hormones leading to high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, sweating, headaches and anxiety.

Jan explains her path to diagnosis which includes 30 years of being told it was mental health, fibromyalgia and everything but pheochromocytoma. Jan found herself doing impulsive things that were blamed on her mental health when they were really caused by the tumor.

Jan is an incredible warrior that will never give up. Jan even had to fight breast cancer during her journey and continues to stay as positive as she can with what life throws at her. Jan's attitude and perseverance to continue to fight is inspirational!

Thank you so much Jan for spreading awareness about pheochromocytoma. You taught me so much listening to you about your journey. Keep fighting the fight from one warrior to another!

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Ms. Schneider is a medical lab scientist from the state of Michigan. Her husband has been battling MS for 20 years starting with RRMS and advancing to PPMS. Ms. Schneider used her intelligence to help her husband with diet. She researched how the immune system responds to different vitamins and minerals and adjusted her and her husband's diet and saw improvement with his symptoms for years.

Even after her husband advanced from RRMS to PPMS, Ms. Schneider still kept trying to figure out ways to help him live his best life. With the help of her husband, who is an engineer, they designed a tray for self ambulating wheelchairs.

Hearing the scientific approach to fighting MS and other autoimmune diseases from an actual scientist was incredible! PLEASE check out Ms. Schneider's website and check out the paper they published about MS. Also check out the tray they designed for wheelchairs. Thank you so much for sitting down and helping people with MS manage life with MS a little better Ms. Schneider!

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Ms. Schneider's website:

www.LessBarriers.com

Madelyn was diagnosed with MS in 2015 after a car accident brought her symptoms out. She experienced tremors that lead her to testing with neurologists that confirmed MS. Madelyn explains her journey with her DMT's and even getting admitted into a mental health hospital because of an allergic reaction to Copaxone.

We talk about how she adjusted after her diagnosis with every aspect of her life. Our mental health is discussed and how we fight inside our minds the battle of mobility, cognitive and employment. We also talk in depth about the lack of understanding from friends, family and society in general.

Discrimination is talked about in depth with trying to stay employed while battling a chronic disease and how we stand up for our rights. We also talk about non MS related health issues we go through and have to deal with on a daily basis.

Madelyn is such a fighter and her attitude is amazing! She will never quit and is an inspiration with how she continues to fight the fight. Thank you so much Madelyn for helping people understand what it's like living with MS!

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