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Recent Quest Articles
Leading by Example
American author, speaker and salesman Hilary Hinton “Zig” Ziglar once quipped, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” For Mike Rowlett, these words are more than a nice sentiment; they are a personal philosophy that he lives by every day. And he credits that ethos with helping him achieve what he calls “a blessed life” with his wife, Beverly, and their blended family.
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An Attitude of Gratitude
Life is certainly full of surprises, isn’t it? Just when you think you’ve figured things out, you round a curve and — surprise — you hit a detour!Being diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2012 at age 55 was a most unwelcome detour, to put it mildly. We were not completely taken by surprise since it had been clear something was wrong with me for quite some time. When tests and clinical observations eventually ruled out everything else, we were faced with the awful truth: I had a disease that would take away my mobility, my independence and, eventually, my life. Scientists are working hard to find answers. But as I write this, there is no effective treatment or cure for ALS.
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A Passion for Helping Others
The reward of giving back isn’t something 23-year-old Brandi Hawkins focuses on as she embarks on a career in social work. She just wants to help people. “There are so many people out there who are in need of special resources that aren’t aware of how much the system can assist them,” she explains. “Social workers tend to be a voice for those in need.”
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Access MDA Winter 2016
Access MDA is a collection of MDA news, inspiring profiles about individuals and families living unlimited every day, and much more. Be an MDA Champion: Sign up to be an MDA volunteer today and make a difference for families where you live Families are at the heart of all MDA is doing to deliver its lifesaving mission. Every day, MDA relies on the support of its dedicated volunteers all across the country who volunteer in local offices, who lend their time and talents to MDA special events like MDA Muscle Walk and MDA Galas, and who commit one week every summer to help kids experience life beyond limits at MDA Summer Camp.
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Rest Easy
It’s a catch-22: Getting a good night’s sleep is an important way for people living with neuromuscular diseases to help maximize their health and well-being. But the physical symptoms of many of these diseases can themselves limit the restfulness of sleep. “We tend to overlook the importance of sleep; it’s so basic,” says Sharon Greenberg, an occupational therapist in the MDA Clinic at Seattle Children’s Hospital. “But getting good rest can be a real challenge for people with these diseases.”
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Changing Directions
I decided to go to business school because I wanted to propel myself into a new career in a new industry. Leaving the tech world for the life sciences field would be no easy transition, and I realized a master’s degree would be my best way to accomplish this goal.One of the key experiences in business school is the summer internship between the first and second year. It was imparted on me from Day 1 at Boston College that a summer internship is a necessary building block in order to land the right job after graduation. The company you intern for sometimes extends an offer after the internship, but at minimum it is great experience you can put on your résumé to show off to other employers.
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Swimming, S'mores and More
The excitement that surrounds MDA Summer Camp is evident from the energy and smiling faces of the campers. That’s perhaps especially true of first-time campers. For 10-year-old Axel Vazquez-Solis of Pennsylvania, who was diagnosed with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy in 2009, that excitement lasted all week long as he enjoyed the many pleasures of camp life — swimming, singing, meeting new people, having a friendly food fight and even taking motorcycle sidecar rides.
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My Brother's (or Sister's) Keeper
In a small Detroit apartment, Sam Barash, 32, lives with and cares for his 20-year-old, soon-to-be 21, sister, Angela Barash, who is living with myotonic muscular dystrophy and myasthenia gravis. For a year now, Sam’s been his sister’s primary caregiver, waking her every four hours for medication, fixing her meals, helping her get dressed and doing everything possible to make Angela comfortable.
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Progress Now Fall 2015
As part of an effort to refocus its research grants program, MDA began funding 36 new research and development grants, totaling nearly $10 million, on Aug. 1, 2015. The awards were made to researchers seeking to increase understanding of and find promising treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases that limit strength and mobility.
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Holiday Cheer
As the autumn leaves start to fall, the holiday season is upon us. And between the hustle and bustle of decorating, shopping, food preparation and social gatherings, the holidays can be a source of increased stress. Anyone can feel overwhelmed this festive time of year, but for people living with neuromuscular diseases, managing the additional activities and expenses is crucial to maintaining mental, physical and financial health. Consider the following tips to help you plan ahead.
Read MoreMDA Resource Center: We’re Here For You
Our trained specialists are here to provide one-on-one support for every part of your journey. Send a message below or call us at 1-833-ASK-MDA1 (1-833-275-6321). If you live outside the U.S., we may be able to connect you to muscular dystrophy groups in your area, but MDA programs are only available in the U.S.
