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The inspiring story of Brandhi Russo
www.mskidsconnection.com
I was diagnosed with MS at 13. In the spring of 2003 I woke up one day blind in my right eye and
numb on my left side. A few weeks and a couple doctor appointments later I was admitted to Children's
Hospital barely able to walk. I went through lots of testing like MRIs and a horribly painful spinal tap.
Within that week I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
When I first heard the diagnosis I didn't€™t know what to think. All I knew was that a couple weeks
before I was a normal teenager with the perfect life and now I am in a hospital bed barely able to stand
up on my own or feel my legs and feet. I was then put on high dose IV steroids for 3 days and then a
taper of oral steroids which had me on an emotional roller coaster.
My symptoms never seemed to stop. If it wasn't one thing it was another. One side of my body would
be numb to where I couldn't feel hot or cold, needle sticks or if something was touching me. These
feelings would come and go constantly and change between my left side, right side, feet, hands, arms
and legs. My eyes would go blind one then the other, they would be blurry or spotty or just black. This
has never seemed to stop.
In the months ahead I had one symptom after another, one MRI after another, one test after another,
and it kinda got old. I have been on several of the different injectable drugs since my diagnosis and I
am still waiting for my symptoms to go away.
I co-founded, with my mom, The MS Kids Connection organization. The MS Kids Connection is a
program run through the mscenter of Cincinnati. This program is dedicated to providing adolescent
Multiple Sclerosis patients and their families an educational resource, a support group to share
common concerns. This is about the disease, coping mechanisms to deal with this chronic illness and
a place for young people to identify with others their same age experiencing this disease. Programs
are provided to enhance the knowledge of youth and their families, as well as health care workers on
life's€™s issues surrounding MS.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned and think I ever will learn in life is to not take things for
granted because you never know what tomorrow will bring. I have learned that having MS can't€™t
stop me from doing what I want to do and being who I am and what I want to be. I always have the
thought in the back of my mind that one day I might not be able to walk but I go on and live my life
everyday to the fullest that I possibly can.
I want to educate people and raise money so a cure can be found to get rid of MS. I want to raise
awareness by telling my story and educating people about it. I hope to have a part in ending MS and
helping thousands of people nationwide.
Brandhi Russo - www.mskidsconnection.com - kim@mskidsconnection.com
www.mskidsconnection.com
I was diagnosed with MS at 13. In the spring of 2003 I woke up one day blind in my right eye and
numb on my left side. A few weeks and a couple doctor appointments later I was admitted to Children's
Hospital barely able to walk. I went through lots of testing like MRIs and a horribly painful spinal tap.
Within that week I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
When I first heard the diagnosis I didn't€™t know what to think. All I knew was that a couple weeks
before I was a normal teenager with the perfect life and now I am in a hospital bed barely able to stand
up on my own or feel my legs and feet. I was then put on high dose IV steroids for 3 days and then a
taper of oral steroids which had me on an emotional roller coaster.
My symptoms never seemed to stop. If it wasn't one thing it was another. One side of my body would
be numb to where I couldn't feel hot or cold, needle sticks or if something was touching me. These
feelings would come and go constantly and change between my left side, right side, feet, hands, arms
and legs. My eyes would go blind one then the other, they would be blurry or spotty or just black. This
has never seemed to stop.
In the months ahead I had one symptom after another, one MRI after another, one test after another,
and it kinda got old. I have been on several of the different injectable drugs since my diagnosis and I
am still waiting for my symptoms to go away.
I co-founded, with my mom, The MS Kids Connection organization. The MS Kids Connection is a
program run through the mscenter of Cincinnati. This program is dedicated to providing adolescent
Multiple Sclerosis patients and their families an educational resource, a support group to share
common concerns. This is about the disease, coping mechanisms to deal with this chronic illness and
a place for young people to identify with others their same age experiencing this disease. Programs
are provided to enhance the knowledge of youth and their families, as well as health care workers on
life's€™s issues surrounding MS.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned and think I ever will learn in life is to not take things for
granted because you never know what tomorrow will bring. I have learned that having MS can't€™t
stop me from doing what I want to do and being who I am and what I want to be. I always have the
thought in the back of my mind that one day I might not be able to walk but I go on and live my life
everyday to the fullest that I possibly can.
I want to educate people and raise money so a cure can be found to get rid of MS. I want to raise
awareness by telling my story and educating people about it. I hope to have a part in ending MS and
helping thousands of people nationwide.
Brandhi Russo - www.mskidsconnection.com - kim@mskidsconnection.com
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