Living with Multiple Sclerosis

Ed Slavin: She knows my medications better than I do. I call her my guardian angel. Female Speaker: Ed Slavin has coped with multiple sclerosis for nearly two decades. Despite that's whole of the disease is taking on his body he is living life to the fullest. Ed Slavin: In the long run I really have been dwelled on and I've just try to a say well I can't change the situations, so I have got to make the best of it. Dr. Richard Rudick: The patient feels they don't have control over their condition, it's somewhat unpredictable, they don't know what will happen. The family feels the same way. They feel sometime as if they like to help, but they don't know how. Female Speaker: Living with this autoimmune disease, which affects the central nervous system make us individuals to eventually make changes in their surroundings and modify their daily routines. When Ed and his wife Tina, decided to build a new home, they made sure to take MS into account. Ed Slavin: We had some custom made for wheelchair activity. Female Speaker: Extra width was added to the homes hallways and doors. Lights automatically turn on and off in various rooms. Ed also can use remote controls to adjust the lighting. A special closed circuit television system was installed, so Ed can speak to visitors outside from most anywhere in the home. Ed Slavin: Hello may I help you. Female Speaker: Special features were also incorporated in the bathroom to make it easier for Ed to shower and shave. Ed takes a medication to help control the immune cells responsible for causing the symptoms of MS. Dr. Richard Rudick: All of our current treatments are start to work by either suppressing or moderating the function of these immune cells. We have now developed medicines that we believe improve the longterm prospects for MS patients. Dr. Jeffrey Cohen: We anticipate that there will be more effective and well tolerated treatments and also that our ability to monitor the disease will continue to improve. Female Speaker: For now Ed and Tina will continue adapting to whatever life brings them and enjoying their time with one and another.