"As a kid, you believe that your parents are invincible and to see one being sick and suffer, it is
really difficult to handle," said Jeremy Kohler, a 22-year-old Bowling Green State University
student from Kettering.
But his mother, Leslie, has multiple sclerosis. And Jeremy has learned to understand what the disease is
and defines it is an attack on a person’s nerves and spinal cord.
His mother was diagnosed in 2001 and it has affected her legs and fingers, causing them to become numb.
Her MS has posed an issue because her job is to work with her hands where she has to paint signs. She
takes injections on a daily basis, and also uses muscle relaxers to help ease her pain.
Even though she is on a daily regimen of using medicine, Jeremy says his mother lives a normal life by
being active. She enjoys cooking, and "can you count shopping as being active?" he added.
He tries to help out as much as possible, carrying things she needs, helping her up and down the stairs
and helping her reach items, especially during the winter.
Jeremy says his mother makes sure that this disease does not stop her life, and she tries not to allow MS
to control her life.
Jeremy’s advice to a family member of someone who has the disease is to "research the disease and
find out ways to help the person who is dealing with it, be supportive, and find ways to donate."

Persons interested in finding out about a local chapter which offers activities for those with MS may
visit http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx or call 1-800-FIGHT-MS.