Parenting with MS
According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, approximately 2.3 million people worldwide are affected by MS. The disease has proven difficult to track, which has likely caused this number to be significantly lower than the actual number of cases. In 2011, Seattle Magazine reported that MS is more prevalent in the Pacific Northwest than almost anywhere on the planet, though the reason is a mystery.
Much of the disease itself also remains a mystery to the general public, but local dad Jim Fairchild knows all too well its effects. Jim lives with his wife, Natalie, and daughters, Mady (13) and London (12) in Vancouver and was diagnosed with MS in 1998 at age 28. In regards to the progression of his disease, he notes, “In general I’d say I’ve been pretty lucky over my 16 years because usually men progress a lot faster than I have. However, last year I had a major exacerbation which forced me to stop working and driving.”
To read more, pick up a copy of the October 2014 issue at any of these locations, or view the digital archive copy here.
Follow Jim on his journey with MS at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-you-really-doin/id867953276?mt=2.
