I have been married for 40 years. We have 3 wonderful children and 3 grandchildren. My life's passion has always been my family. In 1982 I developed multiple sclerosis which changed my life. I thougth that I would be a burden to my husband and fail as a mom. Well, life sure threw me for a curve because it brought my husband and I closer and as our children became young adults they told me that the time I gave them was so much more important than baking cookies or doing some of the other physical things that the other moms were doing. All our kids are happily married and we are so proud of them.

When our youngest daughter left for college in 1995 I thought the productive part of my life was over. My husband and brother convinced me to purchase a second hand computer. You know the ole saying, when one door closes a window opens, weill I believe that another door opens. I became involved in helping to build an online chat and message board site which is now used by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and served as the Vice President and cheif operating officer for 10 years. I spent that time teaching myself how to use the computer by reading computer books. I have floor to ceiling books on all aspects of computers. After 10 years I was asked to serve as Vice President and Programs Director for The VisionWorks Foundation, Inc., MSFriends Initiative. I run the 24/7 MSFriends telephone peer support helpline for people living with multiple sclerosis. I lived the first 13 years with MS with no outside support other than family and friends. Now anyone with MS can pick up the phone and talk to one of our expert volunteers who also live with MS any time of the day or night. Life just keeps getting better. It's so rewarding to help others. I would have given anything to have this available to me when I was so isolated and living in fear of MS. If you'd like to see what we do and how you can call us go to www.msfriends.org

Life is full of challenges, it's how you handle them that make us who we are. My life's passion has always been to help others, even as a child. We are never too old to learn! Life is wonderful!