winter 2014south bay: Programs & services in your community

connecting through writingBecause MS kills connections in the central nervous system, it is only fitting that connections with others can fight MS. When Tracy Todd, a Chapter volunteer from Northern California who was diagnosed with MS in 2002, was writing her memoir, she decided to compile written works by people living with MS. In May 2012, Tracy started a group called We Write for the Fight (WWFTF) on the Society’s new online social media forum, MSConnection.org, to empower people with MS to express and overcome their struggles creatively.

MSConnection.org is focused on joining people around the country affected by MS to learn, discuss, find support and share stories. Finding support is just what Tracy found. Through the WWFTF group, Tracy met her co-editor, Sean Mahoney, and together they would go on to produce an anthology of pieces written by people with MS from all over the country.

Sean knew he needed a support group shortly after being diagnosed with MS in April 2012. He was actively searching for connections online when he found MSConnection.org and WWFTF. Sean joined the group with a passion for writing and a proactive attitude, which “separated him from the group,” said Tracy.

Tracy’s collaboration with Sean led to the publishing of Something on Our Minds: An Anthology to Benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Despite never meeting in person while working on the project, the pair worked well together. Tracy praises Sean for

“being the pusher” that helped her move the project forward. The result was 273 pages of “perfection,” as Tracy put it. It was not until after the book release that Tracy and Sean finally met face-to-face in the National MS Society office in Ontario, California.

Something on Our Minds is real and powerful. Today, about 70 copies have been sold and the WWFTF group has grown to 125 members with writing flooding in. Sean wants to see Something on Our Minds “become a biannual thing,” said Sean.

MSConnection.org has provided Tracy and Sean many benefits. Tracy appreciates beingable to post questions and concerns she has, like fear of taking certain medication. She emphasized that these conversations are “not something you can find on a Facebook post.” Sean agrees. “Hearing about things I’ve never heard of before from different people, such as this or that treatment, is great.”

Tracy and Sean encourage anyone affected by MS to take advantage of MSConnection.org to find support, learn, and use their talents. Tracy found that the WWFTF group has true intimacy unlike other social media outlets. “Once you find those people who are supportive of you, make that your team,” said Tracy.

The WWFTF group began as a way to acquire written pieces. Tracy did not know it would become a place where people could discover

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south bay: Programs & services winter 201408their inner strength and potential to write. Something on Our Minds proves that when people living with MS come together, they can accomplish great things. Indeed, every connection counts. ◊

Find connections at msconnection.org

Create a profile and browse people, discussion boards, and the blog. Or start your own discussion group and get input from community members. With MSConnection.org, you don’t have to face MS alone. Care partners, family, friends, and those with MS are all welcome. Visitwww.msconnection.org and make every connection count.

uPcoming ProgramsRegistration is required for all programs. To register, please visit our Program Calendar at www.nationalMSsociety.org/can or call 1-800-344-4867.

morning mingle, santa claraJanuary 16th, February 20th, March 20th

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.NMSS Santa Clara Office2589 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara

Got free time in the morning? Too tired to meet at night? Here’s an opportunity to connect, share

your story and mingle with others who are also living with MS. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. No registration needed.

newly Diagnosed orientation, santa claraTuesday, February 4th

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.NMSS Santa Clara Office2589 Scott Blvd., Santa Clara

If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, you probably have a lot of questions and concerns. You may be feeling overwhelmed by the diagnosis, and unsure of what questions to ask or who to talk to. The National MS Society has developed the Newly Diagnosed Orientation so you can get the information and support you need to live comfortably and confidently with this change in your life. Friends and family are welcome as well for this overview of MS facts and how the Society can help you.

research ForumSaturday, February 8th

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Edenvale Branch Library101 Branham Lane, San Jose

Join Dr. Alexandra Goodyear and Jong Mi Lee, NP from Stanford’s MS Center to hear about the the lastest in MS research, current clinical trials and treatment options. Food will be provided. Space is limited and seats will fill up fast. Registration deadline is Friday, January 31st.

register at nationalmssociety.org/can | 1-800-344-4867 09wine Down wednesdayWednesday, February 19th

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.Enoteca La Storia416 N. Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos

Are you looking to meet other professionals in the area to see how they live with their MS? If so, please join us at one of the Bay Area’s most popular bars and restaurants, Enoteca, for happy hour. This wind down time is for you to relax, eat some good food and connect with other Chapter members. Come solo or bring your family and friends. Light appetizers will be provided. Registration deadline is Monday, February 17th.

ms awareness FairFriday, March 7th

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (Free Tai Chi class)11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Fair begins)Peninsula Wellness Center2920 2nd Avenue, Marina

Join us for a day of health and wellness starting with a free Tai Chi class at 10:00 a.m. Beginning at 11:00 a.m. you can talk with a water aerobics instructor, yoga teacher or get a free massage. You can also meet other vendors while listening to music and enjoying some light refreshments. Wear any MS, Walk MS or orange shirt and get five free entries into a raffle for an MS Awareness Kit (includes an MS sweatshirt, cap, sunglasses, lunch bag and five orange bracelets).

sabercats gameFriday, March 21st

7:30 p.m.SAP Center San Jose (Shark Tank)525 W. Santa Clara Street, San Jose

Join us to cheer on our Sabercats as they take on the Philidelphia Souls. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the National MS Society. Walk MS team captains or individuals who bring the most people to the game in support of Walk MS and MS Awareness Month will win the ticket sale proceeds towards their Walk MS fundraising goal! Wear any MS, Walk MS or orange shirt and get a free orange MS bracelet. Registration deadline is Friday, March 21st.

coming soonmusic in montereyTurn 12 Bar and Grill400 Tyler Street, Monterey

Turn 12 has joined the movement to create a world free of MS by donating 50% of the beer and wine proceeds to the Chapter for this night only. We will have an appetizer buffet, raffle and music from a local band. Bring your family, friends and fun to this event. Wear orange in support of MS and get a free orange MS awareness bracelet.

Walk MS: Monterey Bay team captains or individuals who bring the most people to this event will win the night’s beer and wine proceeds towards their fundraising! $10 suggested donation at the door. The date will be announced soon.

north american eDucational Programmaking treatment & lifestyle Decisions: thinking clearly about benefits and risks

This program will highlight the significant progress made in developing new MS treatments, and focus on how people with MS can best evaluate benefits and risks when making treatment and lifestyle decisions. Please join us for this program at any of the following Self-Help Groups. To register and for locations, visit the Program Calendar at www.nationalmssociety.org/can or call 1-800-344-4867.

• Hollister: February 26th, 6:30 p.m.• Milpitas: February 18th, 7:00 p.m.• Monterey: January 24th, 11:00 a.m. • Palo Alto: March 10th, 7:00 p.m.• San Jose: February 13th, 11:00 a.m. • Santa Cruz: February 15th, 11:00 a.m.

what’s haPPening in northern caliForniabay area• Yoga for MS, every other Saturday

beginning January 4th in Concord• East Bay MS Counseling Group on

Saturdays in Livermore• Everyday Matters: Living Your Best Life

with MS, Saturdays: February 1-March 1 in Livermore

• Can Do MS Take Charge Two-Day Program on June 20-22 in Oakland

central valley• Yoga for MS on Tuesdays in Modesto• Research Forum on February 3rd in Salida• Newly Diagnosed Orientation on February

4th in Modesto

greater sacramento• Management of Fatigue in MS on January

15th in Carmichael• When I Walk Movie Presentation on

January 23rd in Folsom• Newly Diagnosed Orientation on February

6th in Carmichael• Mix and Mingle Networking Hour on

February 10th in Sacramento• Research Forum on February 25th in

Sacramento• Nutrition & MS on March 19th in

Sacramentonorth bay• MS Now - Today’s Treatment & Promising

Research on March 1st in Petaluma• Lagunitas Brews and Blues Against MS on

March 31st in Petaluma

selF-helP grouPs monterey county• Monterey - Veronica: 831-869-1684san benito county• Hollister Group - Joann and Andrew: 831-

630-0266santa clara county• Milpitas - Phyllis: 408-509-8137• Morgan Hill: Friends, Family, &

Caregivers - Nancy: 408-466-8688, Marsha: 408-655-3178

• Palo Alto - Kathy: 408-921-9888• San Jose - Marie: 510-520-7276• Santa Clara - Susan: 408-253-4489, Bruce:

408-978-9648santa cruZ county• Capitola - Estefana: 831-406-9127