Download the PDF of MSAA’s Publication: The Motivator – Summer/Fall 2015.

View the Digital Version of MSAA’s Publication: The Motivator – Summer/Fall 2015.

“What are we having for dinner?” is probably one of the most common questions that is asked each and every evening across America. So many choices are available! Whether dining at fast-food restaurants or gourmet eateries, ordering take-out, having a pizza delivered, or cooking at home – deciding on an option can be overwhelming… much less deciding on a healthy one!

This title seems particularly timely as I am writing what is probably my last column as President & CEO of MSAA. I am retiring at the end of this year, and with MSAA’s move to our new headquarters at 375 Kings Highway North in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, I was transferring old files when I came across the Spring 1999 edition of The Motivator…where I wrote my first column.

Q: I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in 1987. I am a 67-yearold female who is mobile, independent, and able to take care of myself without assistance. Initially, I was placed on methotrexate for about four years. I was then placed on Avonex and tolerated the weekly intramuscular injections for about 13 years. The only side effect I experienced was the flu-like symptoms.

PML is a potentially fatal brain infection, caused by the activation of the JC virus (JCV), which is present in approximately 55 percent of individuals with MS. The JCV remains dormant in most individuals, but may become active in people with weakened immune systems – such as those taking a strong immunosuppressant.

Posted on the Swim for MS online Aquatic Center, Introduction to MS Aquatic Fitness is MSAA’s latest educational video. This valuable resource demonstrates a wide variety of shallow-water exercises designed specifically for the MS community.

Thanks to our generous donors, Mary received a cooling vest through MSAA. Now she is able to enjoy going to her grandson’s baseball games and spend time in her garden. Tamara received a rolling walker that allows her to walk farther and with less fatigue, meaning she has been able to enjoy family trips for the first time in years.