Understanding Multiple Sclerosis Builds Hope

About the Book

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis Builds Hope is written by a person who has lived with this destructive, confusing, often frustrating and frightening illness. When Carol was diagnosed in 1974, little was known about the disease, let alone a cure. While there is still no cure for MS, several disease modifying treatments that are partially effective for most people with MS are currently available.

This book attempts to explain how the immune system damages the brain and spinal cord and the processes involved in the destruction of nerves. A comprehensive list of her research includes: MS symptoms, new and current treatments, gender hormones, genetics, stem cells, MRIs, and types of MS…points covered include:

• How the damage in MS as well as other autoimmune diseases occurs
• Function and structure of myelin, the covering of nerves
• New understanding of myelin and nerve fiber damage in MS
• Current research on repairing nerve damage that causes MS symptoms

People with MS often wonder about the answers to the following questions:

• Will there be better MS treatments?
• When will they become available?
• Will there be treatments for people with severe neurological damage?
• Will I ever get back to normal?

Of course, no one can answer these questions definitively. This book attempts to provide people with information about the new wave of treatments that show promise to slow or stop the progression of MS.

There are now new techniques for diagnosing this disease. Better research tools and understanding of damage caused by MS will lead to more effective treatments.

An expert neurologist stated: “The best way to bring issues to the attention of the physicians is to educate the patient.”

About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND ARTIST Carol Keller Fuquay has progressive relapsing multiple sclerosis and has been working on this book since 1997. She received her Bachelor of Science in math from the University of Houston in 1968 and her Masters Degree in Computer Science from Vanderbilt University School of Engineering in 1977. Carol and her husband Jim live in Northern California near both of their grown daughters and grandson. In her spare time Carol continues to research new treatments and possible therapies that would help improve the lives of people with MS. Chris Gralapp is a medical and scientific illustrator who owns her own business in the San Francisco bay area. She earned her Master’s degree in medical illustration from the University of California at San Francisco, and has freelanced for an international clientele since 1985. Chris specialized in depicting anatomy and surgery of the head and neck. In her spare time she explores the Southwest in search of Native American art and archaeology, where she has a sideline as a recorder of rock art.