During a midday stroll in June 2023, I noticed that my right foot wasn’t lifting normally. A few weeks later, people were commenting that I was limping. Soon afterwards, the right portion of my torso went numb, and I started experiencing bladder problems. At this point, I went to urgent care. After several tests where my heart and lungs were deemed fine, they prescribed me steroids in case my difficulty breathing was due to inflammation. My wife was still concerned, so finally I visited my primary care physician. After explaining my last two months to him, he ordered blood tests and an MRI and made a referral to an MS specialist. After more blood tests, a couple more MRIs and a host of neurological tests, I was diagnosed with RMS in mid-September of 2023.

During the weeks between my visit with my primary care physician and neurologist, I read every publication I could find about MS. The more I learned, the more it became a reality to me that an MS diagnosis was probably around the corner and so I shifted my research to treatment options.

When my neurologist presented treatment options to me, I asked him about BRIUMVI. The results of the clinical trials were encouraging, and that coupled with a 1-hour infusion every 24 weeks after a loading dose made it appealing to me as a treatment option. A couple of days after my diagnosis, I set off for a two-week trip to visit friends and family in Europe. Before I left, my neurologist put me on a treatment to get me through the trip and to my first infusion. While I was out of the country, the BRIUMVI Patient Support team and my neurologist’s office worked together to have everything lined up for me a couple of days after my return.

I have discovered an amazing community of MS warriors. I have reached out for support to a local nonprofit and reconnected with old friends near and far who I discovered have been living with MS. I have learned a lot while on my MS journey so far, and I know I will learn so much more as time goes on.

My journey with MS began with a series of misdiagnoses. It all started in 2020 on a mission trip when I experienced numbness, tingling on my left side, and severe vertigo. I ended up in the emergency room, where doctors diagnosed me with dehydration and a concussion. In 2021, just as I was about to start college, the numbness returned, along with hearing loss in my left ear. Two years later, while studying for finals, I woke up with a pounding headache and a swollen tongue. Frustrated by the lack of answers, I sought a second opinion. This doctor recognized signs of a seizure and ordered tests that revealed brain lesions consistent with Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis.

After hearing this diagnosis, I spent about a week focused on my future and mourning my potential. I was feeling down and felt like I was living on borrowed time. During my next MRI scans, I asked the technician about DMTs. He mentioned a few options and recommended visiting the nearby MS specialty clinic for more information. After my scans, I walked in and secured an appointment. In the meantime, I also spoke with one of my college professors who, upon hearing of my recent MS diagnosis, reassured me that treatment options have come such a long way.

The MS specialist reviewed my MRIs and discussed DMTs. I told her I was determined to fight it aggressively and refused to give up on my dreams. That’s when she introduced BRIUMVI. I did my homework and learned more about BRIUMVI on my own, and my doctor and I decided together that I would start BRIUMVI in May of 2023. What appealed to me about BRIUMVI was that it requires 1-hour infusions approximately every 6 months after the initial loading dose. Also, the BRIUMVI Patient Support program helped me navigate insurance coverage and provided me with options for financial assistance.

Before my MS diagnosis, I didn’t know much about or know many people living with it. But now, when I talk to others, more and more people tell me they have a friend or family member with MS. I am confident and excited about my future, and I won’t let MS hold me back. My goals are to continue pursuing my dream of becoming a doctor, playing sports, weightlifting, hiking, and traveling.

At the onset of my symptoms, I started to have vision problems. A few days later, my legs started to feel a bit weak, and I felt lightheaded. Eventually, I was experiencing numbness throughout my body. That’s when I knew I needed to figure out what was going on. I went to the ER and the neurologist told me it was MS, something I knew nothing about at the time. I have always been able to fix everything for everyone around me, and at this moment, I did not know how to fix myself.

During the first few months after my diagnosis, I spent countless hours researching and learning all I could about MS and the different treatments. I studied clinical trials and read up on various treatment options, including BRIUMVI.

I was relieved when my neurologist mentioned BRIUMVI, as I was interested in this treatment. We decided that BRIUMVI would be the best option for me and we scheduled my first treatment. I was nervous about how my body was going to handle my first infusion, but optimistic about what BRIUMVI could offer. I was pleased with how my body handled this infusion, and I left the infusion center feeling like I was on the right treatment path for me. I’ve had multiple infusions since that first one, and my doctor feels like BRIUMVI is working for me.

I have learned, adapted and changed many aspects of my life, and I try to listen to my body every minute of every day. I have had moments where I have felt a sense of jealousy towards the “old me”, the me that could do whatever it was she wanted without a care in the world. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and positivity is always #1 in my life. The hard and sad times are steppingstones that I turn into positive lessons on how to be better and keep growing. I am grateful to share my story and be a part of the change.