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I will be riding 80 km on June 16, 2018 to raise money for The Branch Out Neurological Foundation, a brain-loving charity that funds research for non-pharma and tech solutions to neurological disorders. With 1 in 3 Canadians directly impacted by a brain disorder, this is a cause close to my heart, and I truly appreciate your support. 

My personal journey began in September 2017. I had just started my first week at High School, and was looking forward to starting the indoor soccer season. Then I came down with one of the worst headaches I’ve ever experienced. Thinking it was just a migraine I took some painkillers and went on with my day. A few days after the headache had shown up I lost ability to see out of my left eye; no one in my family thought much of this, and we all thought it was it was part of the migraine. Unfortunately this was not the case, and a few days later the migraine was gone, but my inability to see remained. I went to see my family doctor, who referred us to an opthamologist, who told us to go to the ER, who sent us to the eye clinic at Rockyview Hospital, who sent us to neurology at Alberta Children’s Hospital. After several appointments, eye examinations, and an MRI,  I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Things seemed to go downhill from there, and eventually I was getting a new symptom every week. It was half way through October that I started a diet meant to control MS and other autoimmune diseases. Although the diet didn’t start working for my more obvious symptoms immediately, very shortly after starting the diet my crippling fatigue had disappeared, so I knew I was doing something right. I can honestly say the diet, and lifestyle I’m living at the moment is very hard to do, but I know that it’s worth it when I see examples everywhere, including Crystal Philips and now, myself.

MS has unfortunately affected many aspects of my daily life other than just the diet. But the other day my mother told me something that applies to almost every obstacle anyone can encounter. She said: ‘If you had never been diagnosed with MS, you would have continued on with soccer, and school, and you would have been just fine. But now, with this diagnosis, you have the possibility to do something much bigger with your life. This all depends on your mindset. If you view this as the end of the world, that’s what it will be, but if you view this as a gift, it will be a gift.’  I wish I had thought about it this way the day I was diagnosed, but, as it is with things like this, you never realise it when you wish you did.

The doctors told me on the day I was diagnosed that they believed a third of MS was genetic, and that I couldn’t do anything about it.  When I thought about that further, I realised that two thirds of my MS I can do something about, and I will do something about.

Before I sign off I would like to thank a few people for getting me where I am today. First of all, I want to thank Matt and Ashton Embry, Dr. Terry Wahls, and Crystal Philips for inspiring me and showing me that there is a route besides medication. Second I would like to thank my friends, who have been by my side throughout this whole ordeal and despite really not knowing much about what’s gone on helped me in every way they could. Next I want to thank my family, for doing everything they could to help me, and even when they felt as though they couldn’t help they found a way, no matter how small (like a marathon, which I feel like shouldn’t be referred to as small). And finally I want to thank my parents, without whom I would not be nearly as healthy as I am right now.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for supporting me in my bike ride.

Katya

P.S. It would be very much appreciated if you said a nice little ‘fuck MS’. Thanks ;)