Team Live Laugh Love joins MS Walk to support Jodi
Each weekend thousands of people take to the streets of our communities, walking and running to raise money for charities. Every one of them has found a cause to believe in, a bit of hope through helping. And every one of them has a reason for being there.
Today, Scott Harvey of Naperville describes how multiple sclerosis affects his wife, Jodi, and why they will walk with friends and family in Walk MS to raise money for research to find a cure for the neurological disease.
On Nov. 3, 1998, just two days after my one-year wedding anniversary with my wife, Jodi, I was pulled out of a work training class and told to call home as she was having a major allergic reaction. It wasn't the first time I had accompanied Jodi to a doctor for such a thing (once in our college days her face had swollen up from taking a Tylenol), but this time it would be much different.
After visiting the doctor, we were immediately sent to a neurologist as the left side of Jodi's face was not swollen, but rather her right side had fallen. Besides the droopy face, she also had lost about 50 percent of the functionality on her right side, which made speaking very difficult. Her words would come out extremely garbled, as losing the function on one side of your body means half your mouth doesn't work.
Her symptoms were classic signs of a stroke, but Jodi was only 23 and things just did not add up. Three months later, three trips in the MRI tube and a battery of tests no one individual should ever have to go through and Jodi was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
MS is an autoimmune neurological disease in which a body's own immune system attacks the coating of the nerves, or myelin, in the brain and spinal column. The exposed nerve then builds up scar tissue, or sclerosis, on the nerves that either delays the signals the nerves send and receive or kills it completely. Your brain is like a highway system. When you are healthy, traffic flows fine, but if there is construction or a road becomes closed, getting to your destination becomes a trying experience with much patience needed. Now imagine if you body's movements had the same issue. Welcome to Jodi's world. Did I mention there is no cure for MS?
Today Jodi manages her MS with a daily injection that has helped slow the progression of the disease. Years ago the decision to start medication was put on hold while we decided to start a family and we were blessed with two beautiful children: Allison, 10, and Tyler, 7. Over the last 111/2 years, Jodi has had two major spells but battles MS daily with fatigue, numbness/tingling in her extremities and a weak right leg.
The first few years after her diagnosis, much of Jodi's time was spent in denial of actually having MS. One of the first activities that gave her more confidence to fight MS daily was participating in the MS Walk.
The annual fundraising event is sponsored by the National MS Society and supported through the Greater Chicago Chapter. They have two goals: Help those who have MS and find a cure. This year's Walk MS is Sunday, May 2, at multiple locations in the Chicago area. The Western Suburbs walk is at 9 a.m. in downtown Naperville along the beautiful Riverwalk.
This will be our seventh walk but our fifth with Team Live Laugh Love, friends and family who each year come out to show their continued support for Jodi.
If by chance you have a few extra dollars to donate or just some time on the morning of May 2, please support Jodi and the thousands like her. To donate or find out more, check out walkmsillinois.org. You can search for our team, Live Laugh Love, or for Jodi's site by searching Jodi Harvey, Western Suburbs. Your support will lead to future generations living in a world free of MS.
MS may slow our family at times, but with Jodi's unbelievable attitude she doesn't allow it to stop us. She is truly amazing and I love her more than words can say. This is why I walk.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Walk MS</p>
<p class="News"><b>Why:</b> Proceeds go to the Greater Chicago Chapter of the National MS Society to fund research and programs to help those suffering from multiple sclerosis</p>
<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 9 a.m. Sunday, May 2</p>
<p class="News"><b>Where: </b>Naperville's Riverwalk, from the Grand Pavilion west of Centennial Beach, 500 W. Jackson Ave.</p>
<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> No registration fee; donations and pledges encouraged</p>
<p class="News"><b>Details:</b> Naperville Route is 3.1 miles; walks also are scheduled at 11 other locations including Harper College in Palatine, Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles, and Chicago's lakefront; register and donate online</p>
<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> <a href="http://walkmsillinois.org" target="new">walkmsillinois.org</a></p>