Betina from Denmark knows that life doesn’t have to stop or be put on hold just because she has multiple sclerosis (MS). Since her diagnosis eight years ago at age 30, she continues to have a fulfilling career and active social life. "I am convinced that my stubborn personality has gotten me where I am today. It has been rough - a lot of hard work, sweat and tears - but it has been worth it."

School was a number-one priority for Betina, who was studying to become Certified Nurses Assistant (CSA) when she suddenly began losing her sight. For more than a month, she could only make out silhouettes.

When she was diagnosed with MS, the first image that flashed through Betina’s mind was a future in a wheelchair. She didn’t know much about MS except that she had heard of people who became severely disabled. "I was sure my future would turn out just like that."

In spite of the fact that she was able to see less and less each day, she still attended her classes daily. "Just because I couldn’t see didn’t mean I couldn’t take part in lessons. I could hear fine. I refused to give up."

Betina started treatment immediately and continued to focus all of her energy on completing the CSA program and finding a job. "My work became my first priority; I was determined to make it work. I put everything else on hold for a long time to have the strength to fulfill my career goals."

Telling family about her diagnosis was easy for Betina, who knew it wouldn’t affect her closest relationships. But she was initially hesitant to talk to her colleagues about her MS. When she was applying for jobs, she decided not to bring it up in the interviews. "I was afraid people would pay more attention to me having MS than to me as a person, and not hire me."

Some of these concerns were validated. She sometimes found that her coworkers acted more distant, or accused her of being unable to handle her job even when her performance was not affected. "Some claimed I was a burden and could not do my job. My responsibilities never changed. I wasn’t asking for any special treatment, and certainly didn’t want that either."

Since September 2007, Betina has been working at a hospital and she says it’s the best thing she’s done in a long time. "Here, I’m accepted as who I am. When I applied for the job, I told them I had MS. Fortunately for me, it was no problem for them. I proved long ago that I can easily manage a full-time job on the same terms as everyone else."

Outside of work, Betina still has energy left over for the fun activities she did before she was diagnosed, such as participating in an adult Girl Scout Troup, going to concerts and spending time with family and friends. She is very grateful that she started treatment immediately because she knows it has probably played a role in keeping her healthy and active. Her last attack was in 2003, and since then her eyesight has recovered 100 percent. "The medication helps me feel secure. I’m just glad that there are treatments available to me."

In addition to the support of her family, Betina has received extra help from an MS nurse who she connected with after her fist attack. "She has helped me through a lot of problems that came my way. She always has the time to talk, listen and be empathetic. She gives me comfort, and I can always call her if I have questions or concerns. All of this has given me the strength and courage to fight and reach my goals."

Between the time when he experienced his first symptoms at age 21, until he was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) three years later, Dong Hwan’s morale hit an all-time low.

He had just joined the army services and was looking forward to a career in the military when he began to experience fatigue and pain in his legs. Several months later, he began having problems seeing with his right eye.

"I couldn’t stop questioning why these things were happening to me. I was really scared."

Doctors at the military hospital treated him for a condition of the eye nerve. Within three months, however, the same symptoms occurred in the left eye and he was discharged from military service.

For four years, Dong Hwan kept experiencing symptoms that would come and go, from bouts of pain to new, more distressing symptoms such as partial paralysis on his face.

Finally learning that he had MS was a significant step forward toward understanding what was going on in his body and in coming to terms with his condition. At the time, he was taking classes at the university.

The diagnosis from a doctor at the school’s hospital allowed Dong Hwan to begin MS treatment every other day, which has helped him manage his symptoms. Over the years, he has recovered 80 percent of his vision.

It also was during his visit to the university hospital that Dong Hwan met his girlfriend, who also has MS and has become the most important source of support in his life. "She understands my pain and situation in ways my family can’t. She gives me a lot of help to overcome MS."

Being the first-born son made it especially difficult for Dong Hwan to tell his family about his disease. Traditionally, it is expected that the eldest son in a Korean family will play the greatest role in caring for his parents and siblings. Dong Hwan was conflicted about passing this responsibility on to his younger brother. "I felt sorry for my family for not being able to fulfill this role. I worried that I was letting them down."

At the same time, Dong Hwan’s bonds with friends grew stronger when he opened up about his disease.

After taking time off school to pursue several jobs, Dong Hwan has decided to return to university. "I’ve started studying again and will advance towards my goals, not comparing myself with others. I will not use MS as an excuse anymore."

Along with studying for his electrician’s license, Dong Hwan has been managing an MS support group in Seoul, where he now lives. He enjoys being surrounded by people who understand what he is going through.

The most important lesson Dong Hwan has learned from his experience with MS is that the mental pain is often worse than the physical pain.

"I wish that others with MS would continue to enjoy their lives. It’s much better to accept it than to spend your life feeling bitter about the disease."

Maurício of Brazil has a job which centers on physical agility. As a fitness instructor and gym coordinator, his profession is to help people stay fit, and using his own body is an important part of his everyday work. That’s why he feared for his career when the doctor told him he had multiple sclerosis (MS). “I was very worried about my professional future, since I need my body movements, strength and motor coordination in order to perform my job.”

Maurício started noticing symptoms two years ago while performing fitness tests on his clients. “At the time I was a physical condition evaluator and I needed touch and fine coordination in order to evaluate body composition by measuring skin folds. My first MS symptom was the loss of touch and hand coordination when taking these measurements.”

Maurício’s coworkers were aware that he had complicated health problems after he was hospitalized briefly for more intensive treatment in 2007. “They always understood and supported me. I did not explain my diagnosis exactly and they respected my decision.”

Maurício also wondered how his personal life would be affected by MS. It was hard to predict how the condition would progress and he worried he may never be able to have children. His wife was very supportive during the whole process. “She was always at my side encouraging me.” Together they researched MS and learned that there were treatments that could help.

Maurício has been administering his MS medication every other day for one year. In the beginning, when he was worried about how the treatment would affect him, he met with an MS nurse who helped answer his questions and alleviate his fears. “She clarified many doubts that still existed and gave me courage and support to begin my treatments. She encouraged me.”

Doubts about whether he would be successful at work or how he would be perceived by his coworkers invigorated him to work extra hard at his job. “It gave me more strength to overcome my temporary handicaps and to work harder, with more energy, commitment and competency. This was recognized by the company and I was promoted in February 2008 to the position of gym coordinator.” Maurício no longer performs fitness tests, but now it’s by choice rather than because of a lack of physical ability.

Staying focused on the positive has helped Maurício cope with MS. He takes time everyday to acknowledge the important things in his life: his excellent recovery, his promotion, and the imminent birth of his first child. “The most important thing is how you react to the disease and I reacted very well, believing I will lead my life better each day, with lots of health, joy and peace.”

Gerald was stationed in Cyprus as a United Nations soldier when he was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). His condition prevented him from going on missions, so he returned home to find a new career.

At first, the 23-year-old wanted to carry on with life as usual. "I tried to forget about my MS. It worked for a while. I found a new way to live and my slogan was: Why should I change my life?"

Gerald formed a partnership with his MS nurse who helped give him advice about treatment and helped him understand the disease. "She has been my biggest source of support throughout my experience with MS. She has helped me understand that normal life is possible."

In many ways, Gerald’s life was not impacted by his MS. But he says, "starting my treatment early helped me keep my symptoms to a minimum."

MS didn’t change Gerald’s relationships with his friends or partner. He married his long-time girlfriend soon after he moved home. "She stayed very calm when I told her about my MS. It has never been an issue for us. She has always supported me in every situation."

His friends also were understanding when he told them about his condition. "When they realized MS wasn’t a problem for me, then it wasn’t a problem for them."

In the years following his diagnosis, Gerald’s greatest struggle was finding a new career. Already a trained electrician, he first looked for jobs in this field. But when several employers turned him down after learning he had MS, Gerald began to feel discouraged.

Over the next few years Gerald held an assortment of temporary jobs, often facing other’s misconceptions that his condition would keep him from taking on a full workload.

Looking back, he realizes that many people in the workplace were not well informed about MS. "Nobody really asked me about my situation, they had their preconceived notions."

He then sought the help of a career counselor to help overcome these challenges and soon started an apprenticeship as a media designer, which led to a steady job at an advertising agency. During this time, his wife gave birth to a little girl.

Now Gerald is back in school full-time, working toward a degree in information management. He is looking forward to a profession that will allow him to work from home and have more flexible hours.

He has kept his promise not let MS keep him from doing things that make him happy.

When he’s not studying, he spends time playing with his seven-year-old daughter. On weekends, the avid football fan and former player referees at local matches. "Even though I can no longer play, I really love football. Being a referee is a great way to stay involved and I will continue to do it as long as possible."

Isabel was flooded with emotions when she learned she had multiple sclerosis (MS) nearly two decades ago. "I was feeling very sad, alone and scared because I didn’t know what was going to happen; at the time not many people were talking about the disease."

For Isabel, telling people that she had MS was one of the hardest parts of having the condition. "Sometimes when you explain that you have a disease, people start treating you like a different person. I don’t want that."

Often, she avoided talking about the disease with her coworkers because she didn’t want them to think she needed special treatment. Luckily, her boss at the medical center where she worked handled the news well. "He was very supportive at all times." Eventually she decided to move to a different center where she could work fewer hours.

Keeping her new marriage strong was also a concern for Isabel. "I thought my personal life would change completely. My husband and I were just settling down." Despite her insecurities, her husband, Francesc, acted as her best ally during these challenging times. "He has continued to support me to be strong, and to go on living a normal, healthy life."

She hadn’t always been sure if she wanted to be a mother—at first, she had fears about being a mother with MS, but leaned on her husband to overcome them. When she and her husband had a child, Isabel decided to quit her work to become a full-time mother. When her son was seven years old, she talked to him about her MS. "I explained it in a very natural way. He can see that his mother is fine, and so he has never worried about it." Now her son is a major source of support for her.

As an avid golfer, staying active is important to Isabel. She says herself, "you’re only as healthy as you feel." She takes medication every other day to delay her disease progression and believes that adhering to treatment over the long-term is key to maintaining activity for as long as possible.

From her experience, Isabel learned that it’s best not to jump to conclusions about how MS will affect your life. "It affects everyone differently, so before worrying about what you can or can’t do, wait to see what is actually true for you."

Karl experienced his first symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1999. At the time, he was a successful neurologist in Colorado and had had his own private medical practice for 12 years. When he suspected that he might have MS, he went to see a fellow neurologist immediately to confirm his suspicions and get a formal diagnosis.

"As a neurologist, I was used to being the one who diagnosed other people with neurological diseases. So it was strangely ironic to be the one receiving the diagnosis."

For Karl, starting treatment immediately was a "no-brainer." He did the research and began injecting his medication every other day.

He also realized that he would not be able to continue working the demanding schedule of his medical practice. Aside from feeling fatigued often, Karl knew that he would need to tell all of his patients that he had MS, and he suspected that many patients would find that difficult to handle. "Think about it: if your child has a fever, headache, and stiff neck and goes to the ER, would you want a neurologist with MS to do the spinal tap?" Many potential MS effects would interfere with practicing as a neurologist, and all of them could occur unpredictably and put patients at risk.

Shocked and confused, Karl and his wife, Cassell, found it difficult to cope with the diagnosis at first. But in the end, he and his wife have learned to work through the challenges that the disease posed to their relationship. Cassell is Karls biggest source of support.

When Karl started to tell some of his friends and other family members about his diagnosis, he was surprised by the range of reactions. "Some of my close friends, many of whom were neurologists, were actually not as supportive and seemed more devastated than I expected them to be."

He was very scared to tell his parents. Aside from being elderly and having preconceived ideas about MS – a family member with the disease had died about 30 years earlier – his parents were already facing their own crises. Around the time of his diagnosis, Karls father was undergoing extensive cardiac surgery. So he waited nearly a full year before telling them.

But when Karl finally told his parents, "they said, ‘okay, you’re a neurologist, so you know what to do and how to treat it.’ I have to admit, when my parents were pragmatic and even somewhat nonchalant about it, it was not the reaction I expected. I was surprised and sort of relieved. They took it better than some of my neurologist friends." He now realizes that people with MS need to prepare themselves for unexpected reactions when disclosing to family and friends.

With his career as a practicing physician behind him, Karl now uses his wealth of medical knowledge to lecture and give presentations about MS and its treatments. He also is able to spend more time listening to opera, traveling, and reading science and philosophy books.

When Kyoko woke up one morning with numbness in her left shoulder, she blamed it on a recent motorcycle accident. But over the next five months, her symptoms worsened. Kyoko’s fingers became numb and she had difficulty walking.

After seeing several doctors, she was finally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). "I thought to myself, ‘how worried should I be?’ I had never heard of MS and began thinking about the unknown I’d need to face."

Some of Kyoko’s teachers at the nursing school where she was studying wanted to help. "They were familiar with the illness and they modified the classes to suit my physical needs. For instance, I was allowed to submit reports in place of attending some of the trainings."

Kyoko eventually decided to stop attending school. "I worried I wouldn’t have the physical strength to be a nurse and that the exertion would trigger relapses." A doctor she was seeing at the time recommended she seek a less physically demanding job.

As her symptoms progressed, Kyoko also gave up some of her favorite activities such as running and jet skiing. "I quit college and began to live like a retired old person. I stopped having fun and going out with friends."

Several years after her diagnosis, Kyoko met a neurosurgeon who told her how important it was to continue living a normal life. "Without meeting the physician, I would be different than I am now. What he said has remained in my mind ever since."

Before starting therapy, Kyoko experienced symptoms one to three times per year. "It was not unusual for me to be hospitalized for two or three weeks each year" because of them. Once Kyoko started treatment every other day, however, she no longer needed to be hospitalized. The frequency of her relapses also dropped to fewer than one per year. "MS is unpredictable, but thanks to my treatment, I no longer feel preoccupied with the disease. It has reduced my anxiety about the future."

Kyoko also is lucky to have the continuing support of her friends and family. In fact, Kyoko’s former classmates sent her a box full of handmade paper cranes to show their support.

"Therapies that prevent symptoms from recurring and delay disease progression are important for people with MS like me. My future is brighter because of the treatment available to me." Until there is a cure for MS, "I will do my very best to live a full and active life."

When she was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), Lidia was worried she wouldn’t be able keep up with the most important activities in her life: teaching and parenting.

"I couldn’t believe it when a doctor told me I had MS. I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to raise my children."

Accepting that some things are harder for her, such as climbing stairs at work and chasing her three-year-old twins around the house, was an important part of coming to terms with MS. She learned to pace her energy throughout the day so she could still be a passionate teacher and active parent. When she is especially tired, she stays off her feet as much as possible and avoids leaving the ground floor. "I save my strength for the things that are most important."

Telling her coworkers about her MS was nerve-racking at first, but everyone at the school was very understanding. "I knew I could always count on them to give me a hand." When she had a second relapse, her boss let her take year absence to focus on her health.

Lidia’s diagnosis mobilized her whole family to offer support. "The condition became fact and we all had to deal with it together." At first she worried she would become a burden on her husband, but he has been her most important source of assistance throughout her MS. "He helped me look into therapy possibilities, and he took care of the children when I couldn’t do it myself."

Her 18-year-old daughter has also taken a big role in supporting her mother. "I’ve became very close with my daughter; she’s been an enormous help to me."

Now that her two sons are six years old, Lidia has begun explaining her MS to them in terms they can grasp. "Right now they understand that their mum has trouble with moving." They already assist with some of the chores around the house.

Her MS nurse has been another great source of support. She taught Lidia how to administer the medication she was prescribed for her MS every other day. Lidia believes this treatment has played a vital role in keeping her healthy and active. "My medication has mobilized me to return to work. It has given me hope."

As a children’s nurse, Louise sees people every day who have chronic illnesses. However, she never envisioned that she could also have one like multiple sclerosis (MS). When she was first diagnosed with MS, she didn’t know what to expect, or how her friends and family would react. The first thing she said after the doctor told her about the diagnosis was, "What will my boyfriend say?"

Initially, Louise was in denial about her MS. Fortunately, she was diagnosed quickly and her Consultant and MS nurses helped her get on medication early, right after the second attack. Once she started on treatment every other day, "the Louise that I was before the diagnosis was back. I felt like I could keep living, enjoying nights out with my friends, and getting away with them."

With the support of her family, especially her mum Glynis, Louise has accepted that the condition is part of her life. She also relies on her three MS nurses, who still are a great comfort to her more than four years after her diagnosis. Most recently, her fiancé Neil has been a large support system for her. But when they first started dating, Louise struggled with how to tell him about her MS. When she did eventually tell Neil, she gave him brochures and leaflets about MS to help explain the condition.

At the hospital, Louise continues to work hard and has made minor adjustments to accommodate her MS. "I used to work only night shifts for about a year after my diagnosis, but now I work day shifts too. I am sure my medication has helped me to do this." Now, she just makes sure she doesn’t work too many shifts in a row to avoid becoming overly fatigued.

Louise is glad she’s able to manage her condition without sacrificing her work or family life. "I still enjoy work and life and am now in a very happy and stable relationship. I have a baby boy, Charlie, and am getting married soon – life’s brilliant!"

When doctors told Marion she had multiple sclerosis (MS), she felt like her world was going to collapse. "I burst into tears. I had no idea what the implications were; my head was filled with questions."

Her first instinct was to "work like mad" and not accept how MS affected her ability to do her job, but she realized that she had to stop working so hard because of her fatigue. So she told her coworkers at the electronic company about her condition right away. They had all been concerned since she’d been complaining recently of dizzy-spells and numbness in her right arm. "I had a wonderful team at work. They all wanted to help me. My supervisor was great, so I didn’t worry about my job."

Keeping in close contact with an MS nurse has helped Marion answer questions about the condition or her treatment. "It’s been very important to have this contact person, especially after diagnosis. I can always call if I have a problem." Her MS nurse was a big source of support and she motivated Marion to begin treatment every other day and get back on her feet and live her life.

Marion’s parents wanted to be supportive, but Marion knew the diagnosis was hard on them. "They were very afraid at first and tried to give me advice." Still, her family has been very supportive throughout the challenging times. "My parents and my brother are always there to help me, however they can."

Marion was married at the time of her diagnosis but her husband didn’t know how to support her, so they eventually separated. She wished she was able to talk to someone like a relationship counselor to help her through that time, and it was the support of her MS nurse that encouraged her to start dating again. That’s when she met her current partner, Ollie, who has been her best ally and support. "He is supportive and encouraging. I can talk to him whenever I’ve had a bad day; he is always on my side."

Her MS did not keep Marion from being active- she knew she couldn’t just sit around. So she channeled all of her energy into founding an MS support group. Through this group, Marion made many new friends. It was comforting to be surrounded by people who could relate to what she was going through after many of her other friends had drifted apart when she stopped going out as often.

Claudia, a woman she met at through the group, has become one of her closest friends. "She also has MS and we can talk about every challenge we face. We help each other when either one has a problem."

Choosing to leave her job two years after her diagnosis gave her the opportunity to volunteer at the support group full-time. "It’s a wonderful thing because I cannot stay at home all the time. It makes me happy to help others."

Mikael was barely listening when the doctor explained that multiple sclerosis (MS) was causing his double vision. The only thing on his mind was the fact that he and his wife were about to have their first baby.

The doctor immediately prescribed him a disease modifying medication, and within a week Mikael’s eyesight was back to normal. Since he’s been on this medication, he hasn’t had another MS attack. "The upside of expecting our first child was that I wasn’t terribly concerned about my own situation. Fortunately, I had no side effects from the medication, so I felt I was in good hands."

Over the years, he has worked with several MS nurses. "I have gained enormous insight into the disease through these specialists."

Keeping his MS a secret from others never crossed Mikael’s mind. "I have always been a very open person who doesn’t keep anything from people close to me. In fact, I drove straight from the hospital to my job so that I could tell my boss and my colleagues about my diagnosis."

As an electrical engineer, Mikael worried that he would have a hard time keeping up with the physical demands of his job. Luckily, he had a very understanding boss who assured him they would find ways to assist him if he needed extra support.

Now, 16 years after Mikael started his job at the electrical engineering company – and 10 years after being diagnosed with MS – nothing in his work has changed. "I have never taken one sick day because of MS!"

His wife and children have had few reasons to be concerned about his condition. As his wife puts it, "If you don’t worry about MS, why should I?"

He first told his 10-year-old daughter about his MS several years ago when they went on a vacation with other families with MS. "She finds it a bit exciting that I have MS. We’ve read some good children’s books that explain the condition in a simple way." His four-year-old son is still too young to understand, but he plans to talk to him about the condition when he gets a little older.

Mikael has enjoyed taking part in activities with other people who have MS. He’s currently the treasurer of an MS club for people under 40. The group meets every month for talks and special events. Mikael has given many presentations to people who are newly diagnosed to inspire them with his positive story. Mikael also plays in a handball league with his friends, and is even a referee.

When giving advice to other people with MS, the first thing he tells them is to talk to their doctor about starting treatment early, and then always take their medication. "I’m certain that the high dose, high frequency medication I take every other day has helped me enjoy a better quality of life."

Monique’s family already knew multiple sclerosis (MS) well when she told them of her diagnosis. The disease has affected her mother, her grandmother and most recently, her uncle. But she didn’t tell them right away. "I have never been afraid they wouldn’t support me, I just saw how sad my mother was because my brother wasn’t feeling well at the time and I didn’t want to ‘drop another bomb.’" Finally, once she had finished all of the physical examinations and tests, she asked her mother to come with her to one of her medical appointments. Through her mother’s experience, Monique learned the importance of starting treatment as early as possible. "I wanted to get on treatment soon after my diagnosis to help delay any disabilities."

After her diagnosis, she took a part-time job close to home because she didn’t know how the MS would affect her, although she received interesting full-time offers that were further away. "I felt insecure about whether I could handle a full-time job. I worried I wouldn’t have enough energy. I make my living as a Web designer in a small firm, which sometimes consumes a lot of energy, but I make accommodations so I’m able to manage my workload. My goal as a freelance photographer for my very own business is to make my work visible so people can see what I do. The Internet is a great medium for this."

"For six years I didn’t tell my coworkers about my condition. But at one point, some things were just too much for me. I always told myself to stay honest. I did not want to go home with excuses like saying I had a headache or something." Once it was out in the open, work became more pleasant, like it used to be.

So far, Monique has been doing well at the same job for four years and she has no fear of that changing anytime soon. Occasionally she wishes she had more energy go on the large photo shoots she organizes, but she’s learned to accept her body’s limitations. Monique’s decision to start treatment early has also helped her manage her symptoms and she believes it is one of things that has helped her maintain her energy so she can concentrate on the things that are important to her. "Nowadays I don’t think so much in amount of time but in levels of energy."

"I was a bit afraid that having MS might scare people off. And how and when would you inform someone of your illness?" But finding love wasn’t as difficult as she expected. Her current boyfriend, Paul, was introduced to her through a mutual friend. Paul has a treatable condition called myasthenia gravis, which affects his strength and muscle control. Friends often point out that it must be ‘nice’ that they can sympathize with each other about some of the challenges, but as Monique explains, "It’s definitely not always ‘nice’. When I’m tired and his muscles ache, for example, it can be hard to give each other attention."

Their relationship has been a source of strength for both of them for more than six years now. "He gives me support and motivation to do things, to take challenges and explore things. He also helps me inject my medication when it’s hard for me to reach."

Keeping a positive attitude helps her get through the more stressful days at the office. "My advice to any one dealing with MS is: Focus on what you can do!"