Taking on Multiple Sclerosis, One Step at a Time
Each day, Karen Stewart laces up her walking shoes to set a new pace against her biggest competitor – multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite the great challenges she faced following her diagnosis, Karen has completed four full marathons (26.2 miles), eleven half marathons (13.1 miles) and four 50-mile MS challenge walks, a total of more than 370 miles. She did each to demonstrate to others that a challenging disease, such as MS, does not have to stand in the way of a dream.
Karen was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 1996, after experiencing optic neuritis and numbness in her leg. She turned to her neurologist and resources, such as Shared Solutions®, a support service provided by Teva Neuroscience for people living with MS and their families, to learn more about the disease.
In the years following her diagnosis, Karen’s health began to worsen. She could no longer walk unassisted, fatigue became a daily challenge and, eventually, the worsening of her symptoms forced her to leave her job. Then one morning, Karen awoke with a new outlook.
"I realized I could either continue to allow MS to control me, or I could be proactive and take charge of this disease and my life," Karen says. In 1998, after discussing therapy options with her neurologist, she began taking COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) to manage her MS.
With her sights set, Karen started taking short walks with the assistance of a walker, going back and forth to a park located one block from her house. Each day was a struggle as she pushed herself further, forcing her body to take those extra steps. Soon she was walking around the park (approximately 1.5 miles) with the aid of a cane and eventually was able to manage on her own. Karen’s progress allowed her to intensify her training, and she began to walk on a treadmill six days a week.
Karen crossed her first marathon milestone in 2001, when she entered the Portland Marathon. She completed the walking marathon in eight hours and 39 minutes.
Over the past few years, Karen has made fitness a priority in her life. She exercises six days a week and has recently added Pilates to her exercise regimen. To date, Karen has walked 15 marathons, including the Portland Marathon, Salt Lake City Half Marathon, Denver Mile High Half Marathon, New York City Marathon, Colfax Half Marathon, Fort Collins Half Marathon, Walk with Me Marathon, Spokane Half Marathon and Las Vegas Half Marathon.
“I’ve transformed the meaning of MS from “multiple sclerosis” to “mighty spirit”, which has become the center of my circle of balance,” says Karen. “While individual results may vary, with the help of a healthy diet, exercise, my daily injection, the support of family and friends, and many other elements, I continue to walk my circle of balance, moving forward one step at a time.”
Team COPAXONE®
Karen is sponsored in part by Teva Neuroscience as a member of Team COPAXONE®. Karen is just one example of someone who is living with RRMS and pursuing her dreams. Team COPAXONE® celebrates the accomplishments of people, such as Karen, who refuse to let MS stand in their way. Members are working to change the perceptions that 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 at 1-800-887-8100 for more information about COPAXONE®, Team COPAXONE®, or multiple sclerosis.
087005407/080446