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It’s challenging not to fall into the trap of talking about the things we’ve lost since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. 

Who can blame any of us living with MS? There are myriad moments throughout our days that serve as constant reminders of what this chronic condition has taken away.

I could provide some personal examples here, but MS affects each of us differently. I dare say you have likely already formulated in your mind a laundry list of the things you have lost.

So have I.

But I'm using this space to present an even bigger challenge for each of us: Talk about the things you have gained since being diagnosed with MS.

I will get this party started. One of the most important things I have discovered after my diagnosis is my voice. Whether it's spoken or written, I have found a way to use my voice to make a difference for myself and the nearly 1 million other people in the United States living with MS. 

Let's face it: MS does not have the power to take away our experiences or our voices. We have the opportunity to be our own best advocate and speak up for the things we need to improve our lives, despite this disease. 

Yes, I said, “advocate,” but I encourage you to embrace what this word means. In the simplest terms, according to dictionary.com, an advocate is, “a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc.” 

The advocate is you, and you are using your voice to support yourself and your cause as a person living with MS whether it's something such as:

• Speaking with your healthcare provider for the care you need.
• Contacting a lawmaker to influence their vote on legislation that affects your life.
• Having a conversation with a family member about how to manage your well-being.

I encourage you to explore or continue discovering ways to use your written or spoken voice to enrich your life while living with MS. This journey isn't one you need to undertake alone, whether it's reaching out to others living with MS for insights on connecting with medical professionals or tapping into nonprofit organizations such as MS Focus: the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation for advocacy advice.

I never expected that one day I would ask my doctor so many questions or actually speak one-on-one with a state or federal legislator about how I wanted them to vote on a particular bill. Growing up, I was always more of an introvert. Social, yes, but I never really spoke up for myself. I just went with the flow. 

But at 27 years old, I was diagnosed with MS, and I found my voice.

For example, I never questioned why my wife, Jennifer, and I made the hourlong drive down to Michigan’s State Capitol building.

We knew our state lawmakers had to hear and understand through our experiences why the Michigan MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program is so vital to us and thousands of other older and disabled Michigan residents.

This need-based program provides funding to support in-home caregivers who help these Michigan citizens live in their own homes and improve their quality of life. The MI Choice program is what helped Jennifer and me realize that we, as a couple who both are living with MS, could make a marriage possible.

Jennifer has a more progressive form of MS and has not been able to walk for 23 years. Having a caregiver in our home to assist Jennifer with activities of daily living while I continue to work full-time has been a great blessing. 

This is why we have advocated in Lansing to encourage state funding for this program since we were married 20 years ago. We are using our experiences and our voices to help improve our situation. 

And we both have MS.

Do you see what I mean? Discovering our collective voices is something each of us — this includes you — can use to empower ourselves after our diagnosis with this disease. 

Your voice is something MS can never take away from you.