My official diagnosis of RMS occurred on a Friday in February. I was walking back to my work area at home when my entire right side went numb/heavy and my arm spasmed into my body. I could barely move and even the right side of my tongue went numb. The feeling lasted for less than a minute, and my first thought was, “that was weird,” but then the numbness and spasms kept happening sporadically, and I thought I was having a stroke. I went to the ER and immediately had a CAT scan. The attending doctor said it wasn’t a stroke and sent me to have a full set of MRIs, with and without contrast, for my head and upper and lower spine.

I had a video consultation with the on-call neurologist after he had received the results from the MRIs, and he told me that it was Relapsing MS. He said I had lesions on my brain and one on my brainstem. I was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation. My youngest sister has MS, and one of my good friends was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago, so I knew it wasn’t the end of the world, just a realignment of what life would be like for me for the future.

I met with my neurologist and her team and we reviewed my diagnosis and treatment plan. They recommended BRIUMVI. I received my first dose of BRIUMVI at the end of April 2024. I have since had additional infusions and my doctor says that I am doing well.

While having a diagnosis of RMS isn’t ideal, I’m grateful my experience wasn’t as overwhelming and stressful as it could have been. I received an immediate referral from the on-call neurologist and within a short period of time, I started treatment. I’m extremely optimistic about the positive results from other patients receiving DMTs, including BRIUMVI. I continue to set travel plans throughout the year and I’m not going to let this diagnosis stop me from doing what I love to do (being outside and going to new places). I have confidence that I can still lead a full and adventurous life.

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.