Running, Swimming and Biking Against Multiple Sclerosis
When David Kyle isn’t training for his next triathlon, this devoted husband and father of three can be found spending time with his family or tending to his students at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where he is the associate director of health and physical education. It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago, this energetic and dynamic athlete had to use a cane for mobility and often could barely muster enough energy to work half a day.
This was the case for David, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2002. David awoke one morning experiencing numbness in his toes. Over the course of a few weeks, the numbness moved up his body and he eventually became partially paralyzed from the chest down. The symptoms subsided briefly only to return just six months later, this time advancing to his entire right side. This second relapse confirmed David’s diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), the most common form of the disease.
The diagnosis overwhelmed David. He felt like giving up on life and lost any hope for the future. After about a year, David realized that his attitude about the diagnosis was having a negative impact not only on his life, but his family’s as well and decided that he needed to reconsider how he was coping with his MS. With the help of his doctor, David began COPAXONE
® (glatiramer acetate injection) therapy in 2003.
David considered a goal he had always hoped to achieve but had never actually pursued: competing in the sport of triathlon. David adopted a balanced diet and began an exercise program. While individual results may vary, with the support of his family and a healthy approach to his life, David had the tools he needed to pursue his dream.
After a year and a half of hard work and determination, David was the USA Triathlon National Champion in the physically challenged category. In 2005, he was a member of the USA Paralympic Development Team and wore the stars and stripes at the triathlon world championships, achieving a fourth place finish.
Furthermore, David was selected in April 2006 to become a member of the USA Triathlon Physically Challenged (PC) National Team. Later in 2006, David won a bronze medal at the Triathlon World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2007, David won 1st place in the USA Triathlon PC Championships in New York, 1st place at the St. Anthony’s Triathlon in St. Petersburg, FL, 3rd place at the Nautica Malibu Triathlon in Malibu, CA and took the gold medal at the Triathlon World Championships in Hamburg, Germany.
“When I was first diagnosed with MS, I didn’t do much else than lie on the couch and mope around. Today, I am determined to encourage others to take up the fight against MS and see how far they can go in life despite the disease,” says David.
Team COPAXONE®
David is sponsored in part by Teva Neuroscience as a member of Team COPAXONE®. David is just one example of someone who is living with RRMS and pursuing his dreams. Team COPAXONE® celebrates the accomplishments of people, such as David, who refuse to let MS stand in their way. Members are working to change the perceptions society holds of people living with MS.
Advances in Medicine
Continuing research has led to treatments that can modify the immune processes thought to be responsible for RRMS. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved drugs for RRMS, such as COPAXONE®.
Call 1-800-887-8100 for more information about COPAXONE®, Team COPAXONE®, or multiple sclerosis.
087005205/080447