Imagine having to rest every few yards when walking while wearing swim flippers. Imagine getting dressed each day with ski gloves while putting on clothes of quick-drying cement. And add to this, an …
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Imagine having to rest every few yards when walking while wearing swim flippers. Imagine getting dressed each day with ski gloves while putting on clothes of quick-drying cement. And add to this, an annoying flickering light you can’t shut off while an alarm goes off in your ear.
This is what it is like for some living with multiple sclerosis. It is a disease that is unpredictable and presents itself differently in each person. It uses the body’s own immune system to attack the nerve cells without cause. It is incurable, but it is manageable.
And this is how I met Brooke Thomas – managing her MS on a 30-mile bike ride in Clay County. One Saturday last month, I finally joined Open Road Bicycle’s group ride and, along the way, I was introduced to Brooke’s health story and her story of riding 200 miles.
How did you learn you had MS?
One afternoon while driving, I realized my eyes didn’t feel quite right. I had double vision and my eyes were jumping. This moment took me back to when I was 14 years old and admitted to the hospital for the exact same issue and discharged without a diagnosis. Several years later, I experienced it again. But my symptoms worsened to weakness on my right side and slurred speech. After many tests, MRI’s and a visit to a neurologist, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now at age 35, I’ve learned to manage my symptoms and have a normal life as best I can.
How are you living a fulfilling and fit life?
People often ask me how I manage my life with multiple sclerosis, and I usually smile and say rest properly, work out, eat right and manage stress. I am grateful that I don’t just live with MS but I thrive. There have been some challenging, dark days throughout my journey, but for the most part, I’m grateful for each day I can get out of bed.
Married and blessed with three beautiful children, I spend my time volunteering, and lending my talents to the National MS Society. For Walk MS and Bike MS events, I’ve been honored to sing the national anthem. I have also had the privilege to sing at church events, Suns/Jumbo Shrimp baseball games, and other community events. And as of recent, I’ve found a new fulfillment with riding my bike.
Most MS rides are 150 miles, but you are doing 200 miles! Why?
Because I can, and I love a challenge! One day I walked into the YMCA and saw a Bike MS hat, started asking questions about the rides, and found myself buying a bicycle and showing up at the local Fleming Island bike shop for Saturday rides. I was determined to train for the next Bike MS event and found a great group of Clay riders to train with me.
Last fall, I was asked to be the team captain, and jumped right at it! So here I am a year later, the captain of team MSFIT from Fleming Island, and preparing for a 200-mile bike ride down A1A from TPC Sawgrass to Daytona, and back on Oct. 14-15. Our team of nearly 30 riders includes many walks of life from a 72-year-old retired nurse, a retired military person, a local business owner and several Clay Sheriff’s officers.
Q: How are you preparing for 200 miles?
Preparing to ride for Bike MS introduced me to a new way of working out. First, biking is low impact on my body. This is my first year biking and in short amount of time, I learned to pace myself, stay fit and train consistently. I’ve been riding as much as I can during the week and on weekends, from 30-50 miles and eventually 100 miles.
My hope is to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis and encourage others who may be on a difficult journey through give-back nights and fundraisers. Our kickoff ride is June 24 at 7:30 p.m. at TPC Sawgrass. Here on Fleming Island, we are holding fundraisers at Five Guys Burgers on June 27, Chick-fil-A, and Peterbrooke Chocolate.
Want to join Brooke and team MSFIT, donate, or sponsor? Look for the team on bikems.org > donate, or contact her at brooklyn.31@live.com
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