MS Positive: We're More Than MS

Our guest Melanie Cobb, an opera singer and lawyer with many other creative layers, shares how her career changed throughout the years before and after her MS diagnosis. Her passion for music and talent took her on different endeavors since she started singing and learning to play guitar as a child.

Melanie hosts a blog on social media where she writes about life with multiple sclerosis in a humorous way that will crack you up. Her characteristic sarcastic sense of humor portrays the reality of what she calls "the ridiculousness" of our lives with MS. Recently, she's been working more on her poetry to express herself and connect with others going through the same things.

Melanie's Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/maladelosnerviospr

Melanie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maladelosnerviospr

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Music: "Pyro Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Blake Arnet is the founder of the annual fundraiser event "DUNK MS", which features a dunk show by the world's top pro dunkers. He's a former UCLA basketball player recognized with the UCLA Athletics Rose Gilbert Courage and Character Award in 2011.

After losing his mother to multiple sclerosis, Blake has dedicated his efforts to honor her by raising funds for MS research and being an active member of the MS community, collaborating as well with the National MS Society.

Don't miss DUNK MS on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.

Get your tickets here: ⁠https://www.dunkms.com/

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Music: "Pyro Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Join us in this inspirational conversation with Dawnmarie Deshaies about her amazing life journey, and how she has overcome obstacles by not focusing on the negativity and the destruction of multiple sclerosis.

She shares her incredible achievements, from publishing four books to executive producing a movie, modeling for Dior, and much more. The well accomplished entrepreneur continues to conquer the world with her love

Dawnmarie's Instagram: www.instagram.com/dawnmarie_deshaies/

Dawnmarie's website: https://dawnmariehealthyandfit.org/

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Music: "Pyro Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

After watching from first row his mom's debilitating progression with PPMS, a young man called Brodie McCartan decided to create an online space for children of parents living with MS, where they could share their own experience from their standpoint as children and caretakers.

Hear from Brodie himself and his mother Michelle as they share how they have used this setback to strengthen their bond as a family, despite of all the changes they've had to incorporate into their daily lives.

Follow We Have MS Too on social media:

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091513106550

www.instagram.com/wehavemstoo/

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Music: "Pyro Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Mindy Eisenberg, Founder of Yoga Moves MS, opens up about her own experience as a child growing up in a home watching her mother dealing with the daily struggles and the deterioration caused by PPMS.

Her vast knowledge and years of experience working as an Adaptive Yoga Instructor, helping MS patients to live their best lives, provides an alternative approach to self-care and wellness.

Sign up for a virtual class with Yoga Moves MS: ⁠⁠https://www.yogamovesms.org/

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Music: "Pyro Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Navigating through her own body changes due to MS,

Through her fictional short stories, Melissa presents sexuality through explicit intimate encounters in an effort to normalize the still taboo theme of sex.

Melissa's website: ⁠https://melissa-wan.weebly.com/

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Music: "Pyro Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Diagnosed with MS at the young age of 11, Crystal Bedoya had to take on the responsibility of translating to her Spanish speaking

Twenty years later, she's navigating her new life with a Foley catheter, showing how she can still be fashionable with her cute outfits. Social media has become the forum for her to open up about the good, the bad, and the ugly of living with MS, after years of denial and hiding her diagnosis from even her closest friends.

Crystal's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crystalbedoya/

Crystal's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@crystalbedoya

Find Crystal on YouTube, X, and Threads using @CrystalBedoya

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Music: "Pyro Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

In this episode, Karen Schiff, a dedicated rehabilitation therapist, shares her journey in assisting patients with neurological conditions.

From the challenges of treating diverse cases to the heartwarming stories of therapy dogs making a difference, Karen's insights shed light on the intricate world of neurological rehabilitation.

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Music: "Pyro Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Jovany Hernandez, AKA DJ Gio, opens up about how testicular pain followed by other deceiving symptoms misled the doctors for 18 months before arriving to a MS diagnosis.

Jovany's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/djgiomiami/

Jovany's Company: ⁠https://atmsoundsandevents.com/

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Watch this episode on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@m_s_positive⁠

Music: "Pyro Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Melissa Defren shares how MS didn't stop her from becoming a successful business owner after her MS diagnosis at the young age of 21, and how she found joy exploring new things after retiring.

Diving into painting, rescuing wildlife, and volunteering her time have kept her going despite living with multiple sclerosis for 30 years.

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Music: "Pyro Flow" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License