MS Connection - Summer 2011

Summer 2011Man of IronWill of SteelErschen Embraces Winning Spirit

Summer 2011

STOP disease progression.RESTORE lost function.END MS forever.

These are the goals of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s new $250 million research initiative. Titled MS NOW, the campaign will leave no opportunity wasted as we work together to create a world free of MS. Dr. Timothy Coetzee, the National MS Society’s Chief Research Officer, recently brought the MS NOW message to attendees of the Chapter’s On The Move luncheons held June 14 and 16 in Milwaukee and Madison. He called the charge to raise $250 million over five years “a big, hairy, audacious goal.” The Wisconsin Chapter’s response? Count us in! We’re “in” because this effort is driven by you. In response to a Society survey, nearly 10,000 across the nation responded to declare what you want most. Loud and clear the message was, “we want more.” More research, more attention to progressive forms of MS and more scientists working to find the cure. In other words, leave no opportunity wasted. Dr. Coetzee believes the success of the MS NOW initiative will “transform research and keep the world’s best and brightest minds – many in Wisconsin – working to STOP disease progression, RESTORE lost function and END MS forever.” Already several in Wisconsin have raised their hands to signal, “I want to lead this charge.” You can champion the cause, too. A good way to start is to visit nationalmssociety.org and watch the MS NOW training modules to become an MS Research Champion. I’m ready for an MS research revolution. Are you?

Sincerely,

Colleen G. KaltPresident & CEO

If you or someone you know has MS: Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. Talk to your health care professional or contact the National MS Society at nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-344-4867 to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure. The National MS Society does not endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The National MS Society assumes no liability for the use of contents of any product or service mentioned. Information provided by the Society is based upon professional advice, published, experience and expert opinion. Information provided in response to questions does not constitute therapeutic recommendations or prescriptions. The National MS Society recommends that all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician. The National MS Society is committed to seeing a world free of MS.

©2011 National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter

2 JOIN THE MOVEMENT: wisMS.org MS CONNECTION: Summer 2011

Kenneth Minor, ChairSonic Foundry, Inc.

Michael Lutze, Vice ChairErnst & Young David Rodgers, Vice ChairBriggs & Stratton Corporation

Alyson Zierdt, Past ChairAttorney, Retired

James Rose, TreasurerBaker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP

Robert Sowinski, SecretaryDiversified Insurance Services, Inc.

Colleen Kalt, President & CEONational MS Society - Wisconsin Chapter

Robert Buhler Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin, Inc

Dennis ChristiansenCommunity Advocate Albert C. Elser IICommunity Advocate

Robert EngelRetired, M&I Bank

Tom GoldenM3 Insurance Solutions for Business

Martin McLaughlinReinhart Boerner Van Deuren, S.C. Bruce OlsonThe Marcus Corporation Shelley Peterman SchwarzMeeting Life’s Challenges

David RaysichPlunkett Raysich Architects

Patricia RaysichCommunity Advocate

Jeffrey SterenSteren Management/McDonald’s

Robyn TurtenwaldCommunity Advocate

Molly WalshCommunity Advocate

Wisconsin Board of TrusteesSTOP. RESTORE. END.The New Rallying Cry of Our Research Revolution

Colleen Kalt and Dr. Timothy Coetzee, Chief Research Officer of the National MS Society, at the Milwaukee On The Move Luncheon.

3TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 242 3358

Man of Iron, Will of Steel For Dan Erschen, completing Ironman Wisconsin wasn’t nearly as challenging as dealing with MS on a daily basis. His message to those who think the illness makes achieving their dreams impossible: “There is always hope. Believe it!” Dan Erschen and multiple sclerosis have settled into an agreement of sorts. “We have this little game we play with each other. I beat it in the morning, but at night, many times it wins and I have to be OK with that,” says the 50-year-old husband and father of two. Learning how to control and live with MS is something that took Dan years to figure out, and in doing so he discovered that the condition has actually helped him get more from life than it’s taken away. Now with two Ironman competitions under his belt, he’s realized that life can improve, relationships can be strengthened and you can help others, even with a chronic illness. Dan was 29 when he suffered his first attack. His hands fell asleep and within three days he didn’t have enough strength to lift a fork to his face. Originally diagnosed as Guillain-Barre Syndrome, it would take him the remainder of the year to regain his strength, coordination and mobility. His second attack came 10 years later in 2000 and left him barely able to walk for 18 months. It was at that time that he was definitively diagnosed with MS. Today, Dan contends with many of the typical MS symptoms – blurry vision, poor memory, depression, tingling and burning sensations, shocking and jolting pain, fatigue, weakness, difficulty balancing – every single day. He says the scary part is living with the thought that another major attack could happen at any time, but adds that it helps him appreciate every day he has to do the things he can do.

“I don’t take any physical activity for granted anymore; I give thanks for being able to do it,” he explains.

Controlling his MS with healthy eating, rest, cooler temperatures and daily Copaxone injections, Dan also discovered a few years ago that daily exercise is key and believes it to be a main factor in getting his life back. That’s where his journey as an Ironman began.

More than a Finish Line Considered by many to be the most challenging of all endurance events, Ironman competitions are held throughout the world every year. Comprised of a 2.4-mile swim, 112 miles

of biking and a full 26.2-mile marathon, participants are given two hours and 20 minutes to complete the water portion and 17 hours to finish the entire event. Competing was the farthest thing from Dan’s mind

when he joined the Westwood Health Club on January 1, 2002 and spent no more than five minutes on an elliptical trainer before MS’s telltale tingling and weakness got so bad he had to stop. He was committed, though, and returned the next day and the next until, four

months later, he had worked up to 30 minutes on the machine. He met people who inspired him, including members of a Thursday morning running group. He began running with them and it wasn’t long before their encouragement and support got the best of him. “I gave in to positive peer pressure and signed up for the Ironman in 2008,” Dan says. “I looked at how much exercise had helped me with MS so far, so I was willing to take the leap and attempt it. I had learned

Dan (left) and his Ironman mentor, Lowell Mutchelknaus, ran together and crossed the finish line side-by-side.

I don’t take any physical activity for granted anymore; I give thanks for being able to do it. - Dan Erschen

4 JOIN THE MOVEMENT: wisMS.org

how to listen to my body and know when I had enough and when I could handle more.” Dan admits it was hard to keep his chin up when MS kept trying to take over. Sometimes he would fall while running. Other times he couldn’t feel his feet. He also had to learn how to swim correctly. “If I was looking for excuses not to exercise, I wouldn’t have to look too far,” he says. When the day of the event finally arrived, approximately 125 of Dan’s family members and friends, each wearing bright yellow T-shirts, joined the crowd near the starting point at Madison’s Lake Monona. Dan took to the water and held his own amid 1,800 participants, but in the end crossed the finish line one minute too late to qualify. “The most inspirational moment happened,” he remembers. “Bright yellow shirts began coming from every direction, so many people coming up to me crying, hugging me and giving me words of encouragement. It was truly emotional and inspiring to have so much love and support in the crowd.” That encouragement coupled with his determination to complete his goal spurred Dan to volunteer for the 2009 competition and compete again in 2010. It turned out to be an entirely different experience. He made it through the swim with time

to spare; battled the famous hills along the bike course cheered on by friends, family, strangers, dogs, cow bells and an Elvis impersonator; then laced up his shoes for the marathon conclusion. Starting down State Street toward Camp Randall

Stadium for the final portion, “I still didn’t know if the MS was going allow me to do it,” Dan recalls. A burning sensation in his feet had begun while he was riding and he’d feel a shooting pain with every bump. But during the run, as he felt he was only hobbling along, he spotted his son and daughter and their friends. That’s when the adrenaline and endorphins kicked in, eroding the MS pain to the point that he could enjoy the run. Crossing the finish line after 14 hours and 41 minutes, Dan was greeted by friends, family and other competitors. “Everyone I saw was so happy and crying,” he says. “I just let it all go and joined right in. These were all true tears of love and joy.”

Embracing the Winning Spirit Amazingly, Dan spent the next four days symptom free with no effects of his MS whatsoever – something he hadn’t experienced in 10 years. “All I know is that I didn’t do it alone. The Big Guy is with me every day, and I’ve had so much love and support from family and friends during this entire journey. I would not have been able to do it without them.” Looking back, Dan says training was the part of the journey that he enjoyed the most. He made new friends and strengthened his relationships with his wife, kids and friends who helped him train. He may sign up for another competition again some day, too; not only did he find that having something big on the calendar

Dan’s family was among those cheering him on throughout the event. He and his wife, Bonnie, are pictured center, flanked by their daughter, Samantha, and son, Jacob.

In 2008 Dan took to the water and held his own amid 1,800 participants, but in the end crossed

the finish line one minute too late to qualify.


One reason for Dan Erschen’s success in the 2010 Ironman was his previous participation in Bike MS: Best Dam Bike Ride. The two-day event brings nearly 2,000 cyclists and volunteers together to raise money to fight multiple sclerosis. The cyclists ride 62.5, 75 or 100 miles each day. Since completing their first ride in 2005, Dan and his son, Jacob, have been joined by more and more family members, friends and friends of friends each year. Today the “Peppy Pedalers” — who have raised more than $150,000 to date — boast an average of 60 members ranging from age 12 to 77. “We do the ride to help other people with MS,” Dan explains. “I physically see where some of the money is being spent, like the research at Marquette University on exercise and bone density that I participated in. I see good things happening and know money is going to the right spots.”

As a fully-supported event, the National MS Society makes resources available to help participants with their fundraising as well as their training. They also make sure participants are well cared for during the event, from providing mechanical and medical support during the ride to having fully-stocked rest areas, meals, entertainment, lodging, transportation and a Finish Line celebration. “Some of the most inspiring moments for me are when people who didn’t originally believe they could ever make it 15 miles go 62, 75 and even 100 miles,” says Dan, who wasn’t an avid rider until he started training for his first Bike MS but now tries to bike the 100-mile course both days. He adds that he always encourages people to be part of the Saturday Night Celebration. “That brings it home that this is for the right cause. It gives people with MS and their families and friends hope.”

Dan Erschen’s Peppy Pedalers Bike MS team began with just two riders in 2005 (Dan and his son Jacob), and now averages 60 participants. Says Dan, “We do the ride to help other people with MS.”

Funds Raised ‘Going to the Right Spots’Erschen’s Peppy Pedalers Started with Just Two Riders

kept him motivated, but he would like to see if he can replicate the symptom-free relief he enjoyed following the 2010 event.

Dan adds that his experience helped him break through some of MS’s most challenging walls and he hopes he can help others do the same. “I could only do five minutes on an elliptical machine when I started. Eight years later, I worked it up to 14 hours and 41 minutes. You don’t have to do an Ironman to improve your lifestyle, but you do need to believe that things you have a passion for are possible.”


You don’t have to do an Ironman to improve your lifestyle, but you do need to believe that things you have a passion for are possible. - Dan Erschen

Proud supporter of the MS Society and the MS Best Dam Bike Ride

Join today at www.bfw.org

Working with thousands of members to make bicycling in Wisconsin even more safe, convenient and fun.

Workplace Giving Tips and Reminders Workplace giving programs provide an easy way to support the MS Movement. Simply sign up for your company’s workplace giving campaign and use an automatic payroll deduction to make regular gifts to the Wisconsin Chapter. All gifts made to the Wisconsin Chapter through workplace giving are tax deductible.

Community Health Charities Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Chapter proudly partners with

Community Health Charities Wisconsin, the largest workplace giving program devoted solely to health issues.

Corporate Employee Gift Programs. Your company may have its own Corporate Employee Gift Program.

Matching Gifts.Be sure to ask your employer if they have a matching gift fund and request that they match your gift to the Wisconsin Chapter.

Combined Federal Campaign of Greater WisconsinPublic sector and government employees can support the Wisconsin Chapter through the Combined Federal Campaign of Greater Wisconsin by selecting the designated code number: 36427. Be sure to look for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter on the designation lists for your state, city, county or school employee giving campaigns.

Clarification: The statement that appeared in the Spring 2011 MS Connection that read: “As of January 7, 2011, 19 out of 85 patients have died of PML after taking Tysabri,” references a worldwide statistic.


Game System Brings Back SportsWii Helps Madison Man Recapture Competitive EdgeBy Jonathan Rubin

Eighteen years ago, when I was 24, I lost something very important. I lost the ability to compete. I had played competitive sports my entire life. So much so I never thought what life would be without them. They were just part of me. But my competitive ability was taken away

by my first major MS attack, one that left me dizzy, weak and bedridden (temporarily) for the first time in my life. Soccer was my primary passion, with tennis and hockey following close behind. I was taught the “beautiful sport” of soccer first by Africans who lived in our apartment complex in Madison, WI, when I was six. Then, when my family moved to England for three years, I learned another version, English football, which involves less intricate passing and more rough tackling and big kicks downfield. Then, back in the good ol’ U.S. of A., I played youth and varsity high school soccer. I was not great, but always good, always in the game, ready to play, an able teammate. While at the University of California at Santa Cruz, I frequently played with members of the Banana Slugs Division III, but never went out for the team – I think due to a youthful desire to be more intellectual, less jock. I played on every intramural team, in every league, in every pickup game, whenever I had the opportunity to join, and would spend hours and hours just running around an immense field overlooking the Pacific Ocean chasing and kicking a small white ball. It was pure freedom. It wasn’t until the winter of ‘92-’93 that I realized just how important it was to me. After my first MS attack, it took me five months to get back on a basketball court and a year to even kick a soccer ball (my legs were heavily affected). It was probably 18 months before a friend talked me into trying a pickup soccer game. I was a little slower, a little shakier, a little weaker, but it was soccer, by golly, and I loved it. However, after many ups and downs and all arounds, my MS has shifted into secondary-progressive. I now walk with a cane and can only imagine playing in an actual soccer match.

Tennis is a similar story. It was an early casualty of MS. Running made me dizzy and confused, neither of which is conducive to playing quality tennis. It is difficult for me to even break a sweat these days, let alone get a true aerobic workout. The muscles in my legs quit after two minutes of stationary bike riding and after 10 on a rowing machine. If I work out for 15 minutes, it becomes next to impossible for me to walk out of the gym. I enjoy yoga, but my muscles buckle with any pose that involves the legs. Which brings me to the present, to this Christmas actually, when my family and I (my two sons are jocks too – go figure) bought the Wii Fit Plus game station from Nintendo. Thanks to Wii, I can play golf, and I am once again a champion (level 2000) tennis player. I can groundstroke endlessly, connect on every overhead slam and whip forehand winners crosscourt. I can serve big, rush the net, and still backpedal to the baseline. I can sweat like a pig again. I am, in a sense, complete. My experience reminds me of the scene in the movie Avatar where the wounded veteran, who has lost the use of his legs, has his mind put into the body of an avatar. He walks a few trembling steps, and then starts running and running and running. He will not stop. It is impossible to imagine what it is like to not be able to run until you can’t. I haven’t yet tried soccer and basketball on the Wii and I’m not sure that Nintendo can capture the joy of those sports quite as well as they did with tennis. But I’m ready to start the PGA tour with Woods and Mickelson. Who wants to caddy?

Jonathan Rubin, who lives in Madison, WI, is currently ranked 5,024 in the world on Wii Grand Slam Tennis and hopes to be #1 by spring.

Thanks to Wii, I can play golf, and I am once again a champion tennis player. - Jonathan Rubin

Madison resident Jonathan Rubin uses the Wii game console to play tennis and golf.


Join the Lawry CircleWisconsin Residents Leave a Legacy of Hope

Lawry Circle Members

Sylvia Lawry founded the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in 1946 and left a lasting legacy in the pursuit of a cure for her brother Bernard’s MS. The Lawry Circle recognizes those individuals and families who leave their own legacy through a bequest, gift annuity or other deferred gift to the Society. By becoming a Lawry Circle member, you can support programs and services and move research forward to stop, restore and end MS forever. The Lawry Circle has no minimum gift level and membership is for life. There are already 53 Lawry Circle members in Wisconsin who have demonstrated a deep and lifetime commitment to improving the lives of those with MS.

Members are recognized in National MS Society publications, are invited to local programs and activities and receive special mailings with updates on the work that the Society is doing for all people affected by MS.

Deferred gifts include a bequest in a will, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts and designating the Society as a beneficiary of a retirement account or a life insurance policy. If you have already included the National MS Society in a deferred gift or would like more information, contact Denise Jendusa, Vice President of Major Gift Development, at [email protected] or by calling 262-369-7166.

Jeffrey A. ArndtKendra M. ArndtRev. Charles R. BrooksAnne BrouwerKathleen Conine+

Lillian Cowan+

Judith A. DereszynskiDolores Dornoff+

Leslie Farrell+

Margaret Formanek+

LeRoy HeringCarol HeringSandra A. HillsWilliam C. HoffmannCheryl Keenan+

Douglas E. Kiefer+

Pauline Kiefert+

Jane Knebes+

Michael Lutze

Lori LutzeGlenn E. McCrayBarbara McDonaldMargaret McManimon+

David G. MeierMiriam MeierHazel C. MeyersHerbert MyersRonda MyersDorothy J. Nelson+

John W. Nelson+

Louise Norenberg EstateCharlyne A. PerrineSharon PezewskiFelix Pulgram+

Dolores M. RampalskiArlene L. RentmeesterMichael L. RentmeesterThomas H. Robinson

Arita “Peach” A. RobinsonRobert L. SowinskiEvelyn R. SpoerlEleanor L. Stevenson+

Gloria StreiWilliam F. StreiHelen Trombley+

Candice E. Tylke+

Janet C. VineyCynthia Weix+

Charles Weyker Family Trust+

Susan L. WilkeyCarol F. Young+

Jeff Tews and Susan Rather TewsAnonymous

+Deceased

MS Connection is a publication of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter. For information or to share story ideas, please call 262-369-4431. Editor: Cindy Yomantas, Art Director: Amy Malo, Copywriter: Amanda Gasper


MS Clinic at Aurora BayCare in Green BayDr. Teetzen Takes Team Approach to MS Care

“My personal belief about treating MS is that it really takes a team,” said Dr. Merle Teetzen, a neurologist at the Aurora BayCare MS Clinic in Green Bay and a member of the Wisconsin Chapter Clinical Advisory Committee. “MS is a very complex disorder that affects so many aspects of a person’s life, ranging from cognition and mood to bowl and bladder control to mobility issues and pain management,” he said. “And usually, MS starts to cause some financial and social issues, so you have to keep in mind that all these things are happening to each individual and the people around them.” A comprehensive approach to care addresses the complexity of MS. The Aurora BayCare MS Clinic is a National Multiple Sclerosis Society Affiliated Center for Comprehensive Care, meaning comprehensive and coordinated care are offered there and the clinic is under the direction of someone with MS expertise. “I think the affiliation with the National MS Society gives us confidence that we’ve met a certain amount of requirements,” Dr. Teetzen said. “And I hope that gives the general public confidence that we have met these standards.” Dr. Teetzen explained: “We have neurologists who are interested in MS and have experience with it. We have a nurse practitioner who is certified in MS. We have nurses who are getting a fair amount of experience with MS.” According to Dr. Teetzen, the clinic offers physical therapy, occupation therapy and speech therapy provided by those who have indicated an interest in seeing people with MS. The clinic also has a neuropsychologist, a profession that focuses on brain function and how it’s related to behavior and skills, as well as access to ophthalmology, urology and other specialties. “One person isn’t necessarily going to meet the individual’s needs, no matter how good a doctor you are,” he said. “We have a good set of people available who all have expressed an interest in MS.”

Dr. Teetzen, who has worked at Aurora BayCare MS Clinic for about five years, started his studies in psychiatry. However, during a rotation in neurology, he hit it off with the neurologist and switched his focus to

neurology. “Then, when I was first in practice, other physicians realized that I was seeing a lot of patients with chronic neurologic disorders,” he explained. “And MS was the most frequent one I was seeing.” His interest in MS is also linked to his uncle. While never diagnosed with MS, Dr. Teezen said his uncle had difficulties with walking and problems with balance and talking and that he may have had MS. To treat individuals with MS, Dr. Teetzen said he has to look at everything to determine the needs of each patient. He added, “One of the most important things I can offer a patient is to listen and empathize with his or her situation. There are times that I can’t fix things, but we

can at least talk about it and sometimes the patients will come to some coping mechanism on their own.” Dr. Teetzen also wants his patients to be involved in decisions about their care. He explained, “I like to try to give patients options in medications and therapies. I want them to have some personal stake in what we’re doing.” Beyond patient care, there are also several research projects going on at the clinic. “The research projects that are most active are the ones that look at antibody development. We’re involved in a study with Tysabri and checking for the

JC virus antibody,” Dr. Teetzen explained. The JC virus is associated with the risk for developing PML in those taking Tysabri. Studies testing for the JC virus antibody will help determine if this test is useful for treatment decisions for patients taking Tysabri. “All of us at the MS Clinic are involved in the research.”

Dr. Merle Teetzen treats patients at the Aurora BayCare MS Clinic.

One of the most important things I can offer a patient is to listen and empathize with his or her situation. - Dr. Teetzen

New Egg Harbor Hotel HeadquartersChallenge Walk MS Provides 30-Mile and 50-Mile Options

Excitement is building for the 4th Annual Challenge Walk MS. Slated for September 23-25; this year’s event will be headquartered at a new hotel location: Alpine Resort and Golf Course. Located on the shoreline in Egg Harbor, Alpine Resort provides one of the most spectacular views in Door County. While the hotel headquarters location is new, what won’t change is the event’s lasting impact on participants. Challenge Walk MS is a three-day, 50-mile walk through breathtaking Door County. Participants also have the option of completing 30 miles over two days. During the past three years Challenge Walk MS has attracted individuals from age 12 to 73 and everything in between. The event is all-inclusive – with two-nights lodging, eight meals, SAG and medical support provided. Participants receive two T-shirts, and there is also a silent auction plus celebrations Friday and Saturday evenings. Most individuals participate in Challenge Walk MS

because they have a connection to multiple sclerosis. But there are many others who join the event for the personal challenge. Everyone enjoys the striking Door County scenery. When asked last year why she was participating in Walk MS, Emily Koss eloquently responded: “I walk for three days so others can walk their whole lives.”

Diane Hackbarth shared last year, “I am walking so that my daughter and brother can keep walking.” Amy Mangan-Fischer shared, “I am walking this year because

last year’s Challenge Walk was an amazing experience. I laughed, cried, learned a lot and met a lot of inspirational people.” Nearly 100 of last year’s participants share their reasons for joining Challenge Walk MS in a video posted at the Chapter’s YouTube page. There are three designations of Challenge Walk MS participants:• Walkers – secure $1,500 in pledges and pay a $125 registration fee. Walkers receive Challenge Walk’s all-inclusive amenities• Super Crew – also secure $1,500 in pledges and pay a $125 registration fee, but instead of walking the entire route, Super Crew members assume a variety of key Challenge Walk MS duties (and qualify for all-inclusive amenities).• Crew – these volunteers do not pay a registration fee or pledge minimum (and do not qualify for the all-inclusive amenities); but they do provide important assistance in the execution of the three-day event. Volunteers who contribute $750 receive lodging and dinner Friday evening.

Even if you can’t participate in the 4th Annual Challenge Walk MS, you can still pledge your support for the event or an individual walker or team. For more details or to register, contact Dawn Thaves at the Wisconsin Chapter at 262-369-4403 or e-mail [email protected].


Volunteer Sue Hayes greeted last year’s Challenge Walk MS participants at the registration table.

Participants in the 2010 Challenge Walk MS celebrated the moment by posing with the 50 Mile marker near the Lake Michigan shoreline.

Impact of MS Influences Students’ Goals32 High School Graduates Recognized by Wisconsin Chapter

The Wisconsin Chapter is awarding scholarships to 32 Wisconsin students this year, including one person who has multiple sclerosis. Now in its 8th year, the Scholarship Program helps to ensure that the financial impact of MS does not stand in the way of a college education. Many of the 2011 scholars noted on their applications that MS, despite the challenges it can cause, has impacted and helped define their career goals. One scholar, who plans on becoming a Speech and Language Pathologist, said, “In the same way my mom has been persistent through her disease, I wish for everyone to achieve their best despite limitations beyond their control. I would like the opportunity to use my knowledge to help others cope with their personal difficulties.” Another scholar said, “My knowledge of MS has made me curious about science from an early age. It

has been my dream to be able to go to school and learn about neurology or medical science so that I can become a doctor or medical researcher and help to discover new ways to treat diseases like MS.”

Selection Process To qualify for a scholarship, high school seniors or graduates of any age must have a parent or guardian

with MS or have the disease themselves. Additionally, the applicants must be attending an accredited postsecondary school for the first time. All applications are initially evaluated by ACT, a national nonprofit organization, based on criteria including academic performance, leadership,

participation in school and community activities, work experience, financial need and an essay about the impact of MS on their lives. Final selection of award recipients is completed by the Wisconsin Chapter’s Scholarship Committee. Susan Wilkey, Molly Walsh, Laura Sowinski, Jane Jacobson and Roy Fine make up this year’s committee. Additionally, the National MS Society reviews finalists from across the country for exceptional performance. Wisconsin scholarship recipient Rebecca LeBeau is being recognized as a National MS Society Top Scholar and will receive additional funding.

Support the Scholarship Program The Wisconsin Chapter continues to generate applicant numbers that are among the highest of any chapter in the country. Since the first scholarships were awarded in 2004, more than $265,000 has been given to 190 Wisconsin students, including the 2011 recipients. The Wisconsin Chapter funds scholarships through donations from individuals and foundations. For more information or to make a donation to the Scholarship Program, please contact Denise Jendusa at 262-369-7166 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information about the MS College Scholarship program, please contact Dawn Thaves at 262-369-4403 or e-mail [email protected].


MS Scholarship recipients Ashley Konkel of Deerfield and Molly Cantrall of Tomahawk attended the Chapter’s On The Move luncheon in Madison.

Elliot Siewert and his Mom, Peggy, celebrate at the scholarship awards reception in Milwaukee.

“One of the most important things to my family is to help fund the

research that is going to help find a cure for this disease.”

Molly CantrallTomahawk, WIUW-River Falls

“Life gets a little hectic sometimes, but we are a close family and we would do

anything for each other.”

“It’s hard for me to completely understand what my mom goes

through, but I try my hardest to be there for her when she needs me.”

Stephanie ClearyWest Bend, WI

Marquette University

“I am hopeful that I will be around when a cure is found for this life

changing disease.”

“The positive example my mom gives despite all she faces with her disease

has shaped how I view life and others.”

“I have learned that personal outreach is by far the best part of supporting

people who live with MS.”

Danielle DeJardinFather Charles

Brooks MS Scholarship

Green Bay, WISaint Norbert

College

Lauren GingoldMilwaukee, WIUW-La Crosse

Shannon FischerWausau, WI

UW-River Falls

Joshua GovekGrafton, WIMilwaukee Institute of

Art & Design

“After college, I hope to be working at a job that I enjoy and can put my math and science skills to work.”

“If it was not for my father, I would not have grown up with the

values I have today.”

Fayla GroseThe Jacobson

Family MS ScholarshipPickerel, WI

UW-Marathon County

Katherine HagerMuskego, WIUW-Madison

MS CollegeScholarship Recipients

“I always pray that my mother’s situation will be a road of stability.”

“I hope to one day be able to help those like my mom who should receive the

quality care that they deserve.”

“I learned to do what was asked of me before it was asked – to be

a self starter.”

“I want so badly to make a difference. To change lives. Music education is

the perfect place to do that.”

“MS has taught me…to be optimistic in the worst of situations and to keep a smile on my face on the worst of days.”

“We must take each day one at a time and make the most of what we have.”

“Because of my dad and his willpower to keep fighting MS, I have blossomed

into a passionate leader.”

“I want to use my talents in science to help free others from the debilitating

effect of neurological diseases like MS.”

“I look forward to the opportunities I have to raise awareness and funding

for the struggle to find a cure.”

“Our family has learned to adapt and welcome any adventures

that come our way.”

“My dad has taught me so many lessons, like to remain positive and

look beyond what you see.”

“I am who I am today due in large part to having grown up

with my dad’s MS.”

Erica HaglundBurlington, WI

Boston University

Kevin KornowskiDiversified

Insurance Services MS Scholarship

Hartland, WIConcordia University

Wisconsin

Rebecca LeBeau National Top

Scholar T. Ferguson Locke

MS ScholarshipSheboygan, WIUW-Madison

Anna JagodzinskiHolmen, WI

UW-Madison

Faatima KhanHartland, WIUW-Madison

Nicholas LevinWaupun, WI

UW-Madison

Seth MerrifieldDe Pere, WI

University of Minnesota- Twin Cities

Ashley KonkelDeerfield, WIUW-La Crosse

Kathryn Muench

Wauwatosa, WIUW-Madison

Shawn MuenchCumberland, WIUW-River Falls

Nicole NiesingFredonia, WI

Milwaukee AreaTechnical College

Alicia OsieckiLa Crosse, WIWinona State

University

“I have learned not to dwell on the past or all the ‘what ifs,’ but instead focus on each new day for a brighter future without letting MS control it.”

“Seeing how strong my mom has been has motivated me

to be just like her.”

“I hope to be able to become a politician, such as a governor,

senator or president.”

“The biggest part of my life that MS has affected is my attitude and my

desire to live life to the fullest.”

“With the right amount of passion and enthusiasm, it is my firm belief that

anything can be accomplished.”

“From my mother’s struggle, I have learned self-reliance, how to be a role model and how to be patient

and compassionate.”

“I have learned to balance the obstacles in life and in the end,

create a positive outcome.”

“I strive to live my life the way my mom did before and during

her struggle with MS.”

“My mom had a lot of courage, which gave me the inspiration

to be courageous as well.”

“Living with MS in our family has taught me perseverance and integrity.”

“My goal is to become a civil engineer. I am working hard to get closer to

achieving that goal.”

“In my lifetime, I hope to learn, grow and touch others as my mother has.”

Haley PalubickiSeymour, WIUniversity of

Central Florida

Morgan RaeMenasha, WIUW-Madison

Jennifer Richardson

Fairchild, WIUW-Stout

Elliott SiewertDelafield, WI

UW-Waukesha

Ella White-Ragland

Milwaukee, WIMarquette University

Luke ThimmeschWauwatosa, WI

UW-Madison

Ryan StrickerBeaver Dam, WIUW-Platteville

Benjamin SteinOshkosh, WI

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Richard Rolland IIIDiversified

Insurance Services MS Scholarship

Nashotah, WIUW-Madison

Benjamin RoperBell Family

MS ScholarshipWaukesha, WIUW-Waukesha

Emilie RoperBell Family

MS ScholarshipWaukesha, WIUW-Waukesha

Jennifer WolfsohnAmy Reinicke

MS ScholarshipHartland, WINortheastern

University


One of 17 in the Nation to be RecognizedSheboygan Student Receives Society’s Top Scholar Award

Wisconsin’s Rebecca LeBeau was recognized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as a Top Scholar. Only 17 students were selected in 2011 for this honor from a pool of 639 MS Scholarship winners across the United States. In the eight-year history of the MS Scholarship program, six Wisconsin MS Scholarship winners have been identified as Top Scholars. Rebecca also received the Wisconsin Chapter’s T. Ferguson Locke MS Scholarship. Top Scholars are selected by the Society based on exceptional performance, demonstrated by the scholars’ applications and personal essays about the impact of MS on their lives. Rebecca was a straight A student at Sheboygan High School, with all AP honors classes and numerous medals for her musicianship. She graduated at the top of her class. Rebecca’s mother, Trudy, was diagnosed with MS in 1995. Despite the challenges that have come with the diagnoses, Rebecca said it has actually helped her become a better person. “Anyone can tell from the first glance that my mom and my family have experienced hardship. But what isn’t so obvious is what her disease has given us,” Rebecca said. “I wish my mom was healthy, but at the same time,

her MS has taught me compassion and determination to succeed and I can’t help but be grateful for these things.”

Rebecca plans to study biology or chemistry when she starts college in the fall at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has long held an interest in science. When she was younger, she used to go to the library to learn about her mother’s disease. This early interest in learning about MS led Rebecca to her current career goal of becoming a neurologist. “I want to use my talents in science to help free others from the debilitating effects of neurological diseases like MS,” she said. The scholarship funding from the Wisconsin Chapter and the National MS

Society will help Rebecca achieve her goals. “It’s a huge recognition and a big help to me,” Rebecca said. She added, “My mom feels like she can do something for me through this scholarship.”

After becoming the first person with MS to reach the top of Mt. Everest just two years ago, Wisconsin’s Lori Schneider led an expedition including seven with multiple sclerosis and four with Parkinson’s disease to Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. In addition to Schneider, three others from Wisconsin participated in the “Leap of Faith Adventure” to Mt. Kilimanjaro. They are: Susie Weber and Kristy Banaszak, both of Jackson and both diagnosed with MS; and Dr. Colleen Hayes, a Society-funded researcher from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Phot

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Son

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More Than a MountainSchneider Leads 16 to Mt. Kilimanjaro for ‘Leap of Faith Adventure’

Top Scholar Rebecca LeBeau says her mother Trudy’s MS taught her compassion and determination.


Sales of Gingold’s 2nd Edition Support MS Research, Programs

“I won’t leave MS on the table for our children,” stated Jeffrey Gingold when asked at a recent event why he was donating 100 percent of the proceeds from his book sales to support multiple sclerosis research and education. Gingold, an internationally-acclaimed, award-winning author and Wisconsin resident, has not only contributed

proceeds from his two prior books to the MS cause – and is doing the same with sales of the just-released second edition of “Facing the Cognitive Challenges of MS” – but he also leads a Walk MS team that over the years has raised $55,568. The new edition of “Facing the Cognitive Challenges of MS” has been revised with cognitive strategies and

updated resources, including a new forward by Dr. Dawn Langdon of the UK MS Trust and four completely new chapters that follow Gingold’s journey since 2006. Similar to his previous books, the second edition of “Facing the Cognitive Challenges of MS” is getting rave reviews. Nicholas G. LaRocca, PhD, Vice President of Health Card Delivery and Policy Research for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society said, “In his latest and most moving book, Jeffrey Gingold takes us on a journey into the “hidden” precincts of multiple sclerosis – cognitive changes. Not only people with MS, but those with any

connection to MS, personal or professional, should read this book.” Nearly 50 reviews of Gingold’s books can be found at amazon.com. According to Gingold, “Being diagnosed with MS was not an end point for me or my family. My focus has always been to raise awareness about MS.”

Gingold added, “For the MS community and others affected by cognition difficulties, this book answers two blunt questions: 1) Am I losing my mind, and 2) Is there anything I can do to slow down the loss of my thoughts? While the Society states that 65 percent of the MS population will experience cognitive impediments, what does that really mean to a person with MS who is already enduring physical exacerbations?” The second edition of “Facing the Cognitive Challenges of MS” puts those often ignored MS cognitive symptoms on the table for a clear discussion and strategic game plan.

Two Authors.

Jeffrey Gingold says while it is important to accept that you may be enduring MS cognitive difficulties, it is important not to surrender to them.

Special Discount When You Order from the Publisher Order the second edition of Jeffrey Gingold’s award-winning book, “Facing the Cognitive Challenges of MS,” as well as his critically-acclaimed book, “Mental Sharpening Stones,” directly from the publisher, and you’ll receive a discount. Visit demoshealth.com and utilize this code: SSGINGOLD30 when

you make your purchases. Orders of $29 or more also receive free shipping. Don’t forget: 100 percent of the proceeds from the sales of Gingold’s books are donated to MS research and education.

SECOND EDITION

FACING THE

COGNITIVE CHALLENGES

OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

FACING THE COGNITIVE CHALLENGES OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

GINGOLD

SECO

ND

EDITIO

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DISTRIBUTED IN NORTH AMERICA BY PUBLISHERS GROUP WESTCOVER DESIGN BY CARLOS MALDONADO

11 W. 42nd Street, 15th FloorNew York, NY 10036

www.demoshealth.com

$19.95

Jeffrey N. Gingold is the internationally acclaimed author of the Award-winning book, Facing the Cognitive Challenges of Multiple Sclerosis and an outspoken volunteer advocate on MS and

cognitive disability. He has been a guest on The Montel Williams Show, NPR affi liates, numerous webcasts and national talk radio shows. In his second book, Mental Sharpening Stones: Manage the Cognitive Challenges of Multiple Sclerosis, Jeffrey provides strategies from people who have MS and medical providers, sharing their tactical advice on how to manage the “invisible MS.”

He was recently inducted to the 2010 National Multiple Sclerosis Society Hall of Fame for his Advocacy. Jeffrey is a published freelance writer and has authored numerous articles for U.S and international publications. He enjoys spending family time with his wife, Terri, two adorable daughters, Lauren and Meredith, and one cat named Mickey - named after the baseball player, not the mouse.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

“ As recently as the 1980’s, people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis were assured that their thinking skills would be spared when looking at the possible range of symptoms. It was not true then or now. Cognitive issues are bad players because they can signifi cantly affect the lives of those who have them and their families, while remaining largely invisible to most of us. Jeffrey acknowledged his struggles and then moved forward by looking for solutions for himself and then by sharing them with others. We can all learn from his journey.”

— PATRICIA KENNEDY RN, CNP, MSCN NURSE EDUCATOR, Can Do Multiple Sclerosis and author of the forthcoming Can Do Multiple Sclerosis Guide to Lifestyle Empowerment

“ Jeffrey Gingold, in this the second edition of his book, has not only provided an intimate look into the personal experiences with which he has had to contend with his MS, he has created a work that is informative, highly personal, incredibly supportive and realistic in its advice. It is a truly outstanding work that I can recommend without reservation to those both with MS as well as anyone who wants to know more about this aspect of MS.”

—PATRICIA A. FARRELL, PHD, author of It’s Not All in Your Head and How to Be Your Own Therapist

“ In his latest and most moving book, Jeff Gingold takes us on a journey into the ‘hidden’ precincts of multiple sclerosis – cognitive changes. Not only people with MS, but those with any connection to MS, personal or professional, should read this book.”

— NICHOLAS G. LAROCCA, PHD, Vice President of Health Care Delivery and Policy Research, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, author of Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding the Cognitive Challenges

“Multiple sclerosis can be a scary, lonely disease. Jeffrey Gingold has given us some weapons to fi ght where we can. He also demonstrates the wisdom to accept

situations that are not what we had envisioned for ourselves, while showing that a ‘new’ reality doesn’t mean defeat. Buy this book.

You will be stronger for reading it.”

—JULIE STACHOWIAK, PHD, About.com guide to Multiple Sclerosis, author of The

Multiple Sclerosis Manifesto and The Diabetes

Manifesto

SECOND EDITION

FACING THE COGNITIVE CHALLENGESOF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

“...a poetic testament to one man’s courage” —CONSORTIUM OF MS CENTERS

… this book answers two blunt questions: 1) Am I losing my mind, and 2) Is there anything I can do to slow down the loss of my thoughts? - Jeffrey Gingold


MS Scholarship Program Beneficiary of Jacobson’s 2nd Book Sales

In the front of “The Katyn Order,” author Douglas W. Jacobson includes a quote from Winston Churchill, Britain’s prime minister during World War II. “Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities... because it is the quality which guarantees all others.” The book — Doug’s second — follows two Polish resistance fighters from the destruction of Warsaw in World War II through their search for a copy of Stalin’s order authorizing the 1940 execution of 20,000 Polish officers in the Katyn (pronounced KAH-teen) Forest, a war crime the Soviets later blamed on the Germans. The Library Journal says “The Katyn Order” “offers two impressive historical thrillers in one,” adding, “…this novel’s compelling authenticity and evocatively rendered detail will captivate history buffs and thriller fans alike.” Describes Publishers Weekly, “While the search for the document drives the action, it’s the saga of the brave men and women of the Armia Krajowa who must first battle the Germans and then the Russians that’s the heart of the story.” Doug agrees. “What this book is about is the courage of ordinary people caught up in an extraordinary, unimaginable catastrophe,” he says, explaining that the heroes of the story were part of the Polish resistance that fought against the tyranny of the Germans and the Russians in World War II. While the main characters are fictitious, they represent the spirit of the people who were part of the true-life events described in the book. It is the same determination and courage that Doug sees in those affected by MS.

“It’s not really a war story. It’s a story about personal courage,” Doug says. “The characters found the strength to do things they never thought they could do. That’s what families do when affected by MS, both those who battle this disease and those around them. They have to have courage and find strength in each other to carry on.” It’s something he’s seen in his wife of 43 years, Janie. Although she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis more than 20 years ago, the former high school math teacher hasn’t let the disease keep her from what she wants to do. “You can display courage in many ways,” he says. “It all comes down to individual strength and character.” For that reason, it seemed especially appropriate to Doug and his publisher, McBooks Press, Inc., to donate $5 of every copy of “The Katyn Order” sold in Wisconsin directly from www.mcbooks.com to the MS Scholarship Fund. After getting involved with the National MS Society a few years ago as volunteers and participating in the Challenge Walks, Doug and Janie naturally gravitated toward the Scholarship Fund given Janie’s teaching background. She joined the national and Wisconsin board of review for scholarship applicants, reading

The launch party for Doug Jacobson’s second WWII novel, “The Katyn Order,” was held May 17. The bookseller, Boswell Book Company, also donated a portion of the proceeds from the evening to the National MS Society.

One Cause.

Doug Jacobson says his book is really about personal courage, which can be displayed in many ways depending upon individual strength and character.

The Wisconsin Chapter extends its sincere gratitude to the following organizations for grants awarded January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011. For information or to suggest a grant opportunity, contact Cindy Yomantas at 262-369-4431 or [email protected].

• $25,000 from EMD Serono for Challenge Walk MS, MS Summit and On the Move luncheon• $20,000 from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation- William A. Johnson Fund for research• $15,000 from the M&I Foundation for research• $15,000 from the David V. Uihlein Foundation• $12,500 from Biogen Idec for the MS Summit, Bike MS and Research NOW• $8,500 from Teva Neuroscience for Walk MS, Research NOW and MS Summit• $5,000 from the Cudahy Foundation for research

• $3,500 from Diversified Insurance Services, Inc. for the MS Scholarship program• $3,000 from Acorda for Walk MS• $1,080 from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation- David C. Scott Foundation Fund• $1,000 from the Greater Menomonee Falls Foundation Trust• $1,000 from Genzyme for MS Summit• $1,000 from the William Stark Jones Foundation• $100 from the Madison Community Foundation- Thomas and Karen Ragatz Fund

Do You Have a Foundation Connection?Grant Awards Provide Support for Society Initiatives


numerous stories about setbacks students have had in dealing with their own MS or with a parent or family member with the disease. “We kind of adopted it as one of our own personal missions to help the Society and help these kids,” Doug says. The National MS Society Scholarship Fund Program helps highly qualified students who have been diagnosed with MS or who have a parent with MS achieve their dreams of going to college. Established in 2003, it continues to grow both in terms of support and scholarships awarded. In its first year of operation, 36 scholarships were awarded for a total of $68,000; in 2010 nearly $1 million was awarded to 470 scholars. Open to first-time college freshmen of any age, the application for the 2012 program will be posted on the National MS Society website on October 1, 2011. The Jacobsons held a fundraiser last year featuring Lori Schneider, the first person with MS to successfully climb Mount Everest. The event included a silent auction that included the naming rights to one of the characters in “The Katyn Order.” (With the winning bid, Tim Meinerz is now immortalized as an American Army colonel in the book.) Through it, approximately $20,000 was raised for the scholarship fund.

“Janie has benefited substantially over these past couple decades by the advancements in research and medication. In fact, she’s in better health now than she was 10 years ago and we have to attribute that to the medications that are available now,” Doug says. “The National MS Society has had a direct impact on our family and we felt we should be doing something to help continue this cause,” he adds “There are so many people this affects and Wisconsin has the highest incidence of MS in the country. Being natives of Wisconsin and dealing with this disease in our family, we felt it was our responsibility to help out and give something back.”

Book Sales Support the MS Scholarship ProgramIn a joint effort by author Douglas W. Jacobson and his publisher, McBooks Press, Inc., $5 of each copy of “The Katyn Order” purchased direct from the publisher at www.mcbooks.com will be donated to the MS Scholarship Fund for Wisconsin families affected by MS.


The Function ReportDetails are Key to Disability Appeal ProcessBy Attorney Thomas E. Bush

This article is designed to help claimants complete Function Report-Adult, form SSA-3373-BK dated December 2009. If you have an earlier or later version, this article may not be fully applicable. When claims are at the initial or reconsideration steps of the disability appeal process, the Social Security Administration (SSA) asks claimants to complete a Function Report-Adult: a form that allows you to describe for SSA what your life is like. Complete the questionnaire so that it describes not only your daily activities but also your limitations. It is essential to tell the truth. Describe activities and limitations without exaggerating and without minimizing. Details help someone who reads the questionnaire understand what your life is like. When you’re done, ask a friend or relative to read the questionnaire and answer this question: have I given an accurate description of my limitations and my daily life?The biggest mistake made by claimants in answering the question, “How do your illnesses, injuries, or conditions limit your ability to work?” is failing to provide enough

explanation. Another mistake sometimes made by claimants is that they explain only why they cannot do their former work. To win a disability case, you usually need to prove much more than inability to do your prior job. Many claimants, including almost everyone under age 50, must prove they cannot do an easy full time job.Because SSA provides so little space to describe “what you do from the time you wake up until going to bed,” some claimants write very little. This may be a mistake. It is important to write as much as is necessary so that SSA will understand what your life is like. You may have to add a page to give a good description of your daily activities; but at the same time, do not go on and on. Some people have been known to write a “book.” While such books can provide valuable information, there is such a thing as overkill.

Provide Specifics The best approach is to answer this general question after you’ve answered all the other questions on the Function Report-Adult. The questionnaire asks many specific questions. If you describe something in answer to a specific question, you don’t need to repeat it when answering the general question. You can use your answer to this question to give an overview of what your life is like. Many people say they don’t really do anything on a typical day other than a few household chores. It is important for you to describe the few chores and “not

really doing anything.” That is, what do you do in between household chores? How do you spend the majority of your time? Are you watching television? Reading? Looking out the window? Be sure to fully explain all of your “down time”

– the time you spend in bed, the recliner, on the sofa, in the bathroom or taking daytime naps.

Describe What You Do Differently As for laundry, cleaning, cooking, etc., it is important to describe anything you do differently now than before you became disabled. If you do things for only a few minutes at a time and then rest, be sure to explain that either in answer to the general question about daily activities or question 14.b. Question 14.b. asks how much time house work takes you. Some disabled people have been known to honestly answer question 14.b. saying that housework takes “all day.” This is true because they do housework only for a few minutes at a time and then rest and keep going back to it all day. It takes all day to get a little housework done. But SSA will likely conclude from

Wisconsin’s Tom Bush shares SSDI expertise gleaned over 20 years.

A description of how you organize your life around your disability can win your case.


such an answer that this claimant spends the entire day doing housework without a break – the claimant could work as a house cleaner. Thus, a complete description of how housework gets done is important to keep SSA from coming to the wrong conclusion. Although there are some disabled people whose daily activities at home are completely normal (for example, those with certain mental impairments), most claimants have organized their home life to accommodate their disabilities. A description of how you organize your life around your disability can win your case. For example, sometimes people with MS have to spend time lying down or sitting in a recliner because of

fatigue. They do a little and then rest. This is important information. If you leave out a description of how you spend most of the day resting, if you describe only the few activities you actually do (laundry, cleaning, shopping, etc.), you are missing an opportunity to provide information that might convince SSA decision makers that you cannot work a regular job on a sustained basis. Make sure you provide details about what you do when you’re resting so that SSA does not simply conclude you can do a sit-down job.

Tom Bush is the preeminent expert on SSDI in Southeastern Wisconsin. A Wisconsin Chapter volunteer for 20 years, in 2008 Tom was inducted into the National MS Society’s Volunteer Hall of Fame. Tom’s web site is www.tebush.com.

September 17 also Elephant Appreciation Day16th Annual MS Day at the Zoo will Feature Fun for All

The Milwaukee County Zoo is the setting for the 16th Annual MS Day at the Zoo on Saturday, September 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults ages 13 and over which includes Zoo admission and lunch; or $8 for children ages 2 to 12 which includes Zoo admission, lunch and an MS Day at the Zoo T-shirt. In addition to regular Zoo attractions, September 17 is also “Elephant Appreciation Day.” The Zoo is planning special activities to draw attention to their two magnificent elephants, Brittany and Ruth. The Zoo’s special summer exhibit, “Butterflies! In Living Color,” will also be on display. Check MilwaukeeZoo.org for more details. Historically, MS Day at the Zoo has been one of the Wisconsin Chapter’s most popular events. In addition to the Zoo setting, festivities include vendor displays and games for the kids. Attendees last year “rocked” the Zoo with plenty of dancing in the private Zoo Terrace picnic area reserved especially for the event. Advance reservations are required and must be made by Friday, September 16. Reserve your spot for fun at the Zoo at the Chapter’s website, wisMS.org, or by calling 800-242-3358.

Donate to Send Families to the ZooHelp create happy memories for families struggling with the financial burden of MS. Your donation of $40 will send a family of four to MS Day at the Zoo. Call the Wisconsin Chapter at 800-242-3358 and make a contribution.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT®

Tom Bush, continued from Page 19


Reception Features Unique TwistWisconsin Couple Creates Tribute to Groom’s Mother By Rebecca Courtney

Weddings are about more than the bride and groom. Very often they’re a celebration of two families coming together. A Wisconsin couple recently incorporated a unique tribute to the groom’s mother as part of their special wedding celebration. Scott Ottow’s mother, Kristin, passed away in November 2003 from complications of MS. The young

groom wanted to honor his mom at his April 30, 2011 wedding to Megan Mann. Instead of tapping drinking glasses to encourage the bride and groom to kiss during the reception, Scott and Megan asked guests to place a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter in a large jar. What’s more, the couple creatively placed a jar of jellybeans at each guest’s place setting. A sticker attached to the jar stated, “In loving memory of Scott’s mom, Kristin, a donation has been made to the National

Multiple Sclerosis Society.” Prior to the wedding Scott and Megan made a $250 donation to the Society in honor of Kristin. They also regularly participate in Walk MS. How well did the donation jar work? “We were barely able to eat our dinner,” said Megan. “The donations just kept coming.” By the end of the wedding reception, more than 50 people had

contributed $651 in honor of Kristin. Together with the donation Scott and Megan made, the new couple was able to contribute $901 in honor of Scott’s mother.

“After the wedding people told us how moved they were by the tribute to Scott’s mom,” said Megan. “We will always remember Kristin’s presence at the wedding.”

Becky Courtney is a Public Relations major and Advertising minor at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. During the summer she participated as a marketing communications intern for the Wisconsin Chapter.

Tributes and memorials can be made at the Wisconsin Chapter website, wisMS.org, or by calling 800-242-3358.

Scott Ottow and his new bride, Megan, paid tribute to the memory of the groom’s mother at their April 30 wedding. In addition to the inscription on jellybean-filled jars positioned at each guest’s place setting, those attending the wedding reception were asked to make a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society if they wanted the couple to kiss.

After the wedding people told us how moved they were by the tribute to Scott’s mom. - Megan Ottow


2011 Walk MS SponsorsOne Step at a Time You are Changing Lives

Carpenters UnionData Dimensions

Grant Regional Health CenterGreen Bay Packaging

Group Health CooperativeHanger Prosthetics & Orthotics

HumanaJF Ahern

KohlerNE Wisconsin MRI

Parker Community Credit UnionPioneer Ford

Quincy BioscienceREI Engineering

RW Baird

SargentoSt Marys Dean Ventures

Tricor InsuranceTrustpointUS Bank

UW HealthYoung, Shuster, Maslowski

In-Kind SponsorsKenosha News Kwik Trip Rockford Silkscreen

Janesville

Informative MS Videos Available Online. More than 50 videos are now available at the Society’s MS Learn Online website, and new productions are added monthly. There are Spanish Learn Online videos, too. Visit nationalMSsociety.org to view the MS Learn Online videos – and sign up for e-mail alerts so you’ll know when a new feature is available for screening.

Wisconsin Chapter Calendar of Clinic Visits. Representatives of the Wisconsin Chapter regularly visit several of the organization’s official clinics. During these visits, Chapter staff is available to meet confidentially and answer questions plus share informative literature. The current schedule of clinic visits is as follows: • Aurora Baycare MS Clinic, Green Bay: 4th Friday of every month • Marshfield Clinic MS Center, Marshfield: 3rd Tuesday of every month • ProHealth Care Oconomowoc Physician Center, Oconomowoc: 3rd Friday of every month. • Regional Multiple Sclerosis Center, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Milwaukee: 1st Monday, 2nd Thursday, 3rd Wednesday, 4th Tuesday of each month. • ProHealth Care Neuroscience Center,

Waukesha Memorial Hospital, Waukesha: 4th Tuesday of each month. • UW Hospital and Clinics Neurology/MS Clinic, Madison: 4th Wednesday of each month

Call an MS Navigator Today. MS Navigator is here to help you navigate the challenges of MS. Professional advisors are available during standard business hours: Monday-Friday. Please call 800-344-4867 for personalized service, up-to-date information and practical resources and referrals.

Support Groups. There are nearly 50 MS support groups in Wisconsin and new groups sprout up regularly. For a complete listing including meeting dates, please visit wisMS.org or call 800-242-3358.

Sign up for Action Alerts and Read the Blog. Sign up today to receive Action Alert e-mails. These informative updates will keep you connected to the issues that matter most to individuals with MS. E-mail [email protected] for details or call 800-242-3358. You can also read the MS Activist blog to keep up with news on federal-level issues at MSactivist.blogspot.com.

Wisconsin Chapter News and NotesThis is How We Move It


Bike MSBest Dam Bike RideAugust 6-7

Make a Mark for MSCommittee MeetingAugust 22

Generation OptimisticMilwaukee August 25

Cognitive Meltdown: How You, Your Family & Your Friends Face MS TogetherPewaukee September 10

Mud Run Twin CitiesSeptember 10

MS Research NOWSpeaker SeriesEau ClaireSeptember 10

MS DayMilwaukee County ZooSeptember 17

Challenge Walk MSDoor CountySeptember 23-25

Make a Mark for MSCommittee MeetingSeptember 26

Wisconsin Chapter Board of Trustees MeetingSeptember 27

MS Research NOWSpeaker SeriesWausauOctober 8

MS Snowmobile TourWabenoJanuary 26-29, 2012

Please visit the wisMS.org Calendar of Events for the latest listing of Chapter activities and Community Events.

Wisconsin Chapter Calendar of Events

®

wisMS.org • Toll Free 1 800 242 3358 • 262 369 4400

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Milwaukee, WI 53202Permit No. 2868

PAID1120 James Drive Suite A Hartland, WI 53029

Mailing Label ChangesPlease check the appropriate box below, correct the label and return to the Wisconsin Chapter. Name change or misspelled Address change Remove from mailing list Received more than one copy Please send me my MS Connection via e-mail. My e-mail address is:__________________________________________

$250 Million Research Initiative AnnouncedSociety’s Chief Research Officer Addresses Luncheon Dr. Timothy Coetzee, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Chief Research Officer, was the keynote speaker at the 2011 On The Move luncheons held in Milwaukee and Madison on June 14 and 16, respectively. He announced to attendees that the Society is launching a new $250 million fundraising campaign to benefit MS research. The initiative, titled MS NOW, An MS Research Revolution, will run through 2015. According to Dr. Coetzee it is designed to fuel research to STOP disease progression, RESTORE lost function and END MS forever. After the luncheons, MS Scholarship recipients and their families attended a private reception to receive their award certificates.

1. David Calhoon, left, and Dr. John Fleming attended Madison’s On The Move luncheon.2. Dr. Timothy Coetzee, left, talks with Wendy Machi and her son Matthew following the On The Move luncheon.3. Board of Trustee members David and Patricia Raysich joined the On The Move luncheon in Milwaukee.

1. 2. 3.

MS Connection - Summer 2011

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Transcript of MS Connection - Summer 2011