missdoah@yahoo.com

About Shannondoah Stephan

I can't believe that its been over 13 years since my doctor confirmed that I did indeed have Multiple Sclerosis. I was misdiagnosed so many times since high school. I finally had an answer at 28 years old. Now. Fear sets in. A family friend had MS and was not doing well at all. Panic told me that I was heading down the same road, and that is what my future was going to look like. Wheelchair. Constant bouts of laughing and crying. Needing help with so many functions that I had been taking for granted. Terrifying. Now, I feel that that I do need to add a note here mentioning that I have many chronic conditions, and they just keep coming. That can be common with Autoimmune diseases. They like friends (eye roll). I had no idea where to start as far as taking care of myself in regards to my MS. My doctor advised to me lose weight and to try yoga for starters. When you take as many medications as I do, losing weight is much easier said than done! So, off I go to my local gym, the BAC. I met an amazing instructor, who later became my trainer and my friend. Gym life was good. Then I started to have hip problems from all of the steroids that my neurologists were so eager to give me to treat the MS early on. Avascular Necrosis. Both hips. I had my first hip surgery in 2010. The total hip replacement at 39 yrs old, followed by a year of hell, followed by a corrective surgery a year later. and here I am.... I found the MSFC Gym online by accident. I saw it on a friends page. I started visiting it everyday and never looked back! Made friends. Forever ones. I'm constantly challenging my body every day and holding accountability along side thousands of fellow MS'ers! I will fight this disease forever, I really don't have a choice there....but I'm going to fight it hard and with purpose!