Bike MS

My MS Story

 

I was honored to be named the Most Inspirational rider for Bike MS Bay to Bay 2022. At the awards luncheon I shared my story for the first time. Now, I will share it with you.

 

I rode in Bike MS for 3 years before I got my own MS diagnosis.

 

2014 was not only my first Bike MS, it was my first time ever participating in an organized bike ride. I was recruited to be a part of my corporate team at Expeditors, a top fundraiser. It was the Deception Pass Classic in beautiful northern Washington in the Skagit Valley. I was probably convinced to ride because I heard there would be a party at the end with a bunch of cool people from work. And free beer. For a good cause. 

 

I was a rookie rider and I couldn’t even make it up the first hill on day one without getting off and pushing my bike. But I was inspired to keep going anyway because I was having such a great time, surrounded by amazing people. The first time someone with MS thanked me for riding for them I felt really humbled and proud at the same time. I only knew two people living with MS at that time, both women I admired. I rode for Jackie and Roseanne.

 

2015 I was able to ride up that hill without stopping, since the first year I really got to know and make friends with my gears. I even rode on day 2 and chugged up hill after hill on the short course, simultaneously praising myself and wondering what made me so crazy.

 

2016 I finally made it all the way up the hill and over the pass itself. It was a long difficult journey with lots of stops along the way. I was back to pushing the bike but there was no shame in it, this time I wasn’t on the kiddie hill, I was on my way to the top. It was so satisfying to make it. 

 

A few months after riding in Bike MS, in November of 2016, I started feeling numbness spreading across my face. It started small, like a corner of my mouth. I thought it might be a cold sore coming on and didn’t think much of it. By the next day it was just a little worse. I laughed because I thought I was drooling but I wasn’t. A lot like that feeling after going to the dentist, except the area of numbness kept growing. That was over a weekend at home but by Monday when I went to work, the numbness was starting to reach my neck and covered nearly half my face. When I let my work team know what was happening they insisted I immediately go to the hospital. Facial numbness can be signs of a stroke and they were very worried. 

 

In the ER they kept me under watch in the waiting room until they were able to assess me and rule out a stroke. The doctor asked if I would like to do some more tests to try to see where the numbness was coming from and I said “yes, of course!” 

 

Next it was time for my first brain MRI. While I was waiting for my results, I pulled out a sketch book and did some drawing. A self-portrait of my numbness and pain. 

 

The doctor stood there in the ER room with his crisp white sheet of paper and gave me my diagnosis. Multiple brain lesions with clear signs of multiple sclerosis. Facial paresthesia, the technical term for face numbness. He asked me if I’d ever heard of MS and I remember being proud to say I rode in Bike MS for 3 years and in fact did know about it. 

 

I remember feeling at least slightly relieved because I was familiar with it and I knew that there was a whole MS community to support me. One I was already a part of.

 

My life changed that day, but it didn't end. I moved from Seattle to Southern California to be near my family.

 

So now, I ride with MS. I ride for a cure. I ride for support. I ride because I still can and for those who can't.

 

I've now been riding in Bike MS Bay to Bay for 3 years. It's a beautiful ride with amazing people.

 

Being a part of this ride has also found me in a place on the ride committee. That has also led to me getting involved in the local community as an MS Ambassador and in the very near future, an MS Activist at the state action day for MS.

 

I'm recruiting for my team, please reach out if you want to join Team Valkyrie of Battle.

 

I have an audacious goal of raising over $10,000 this year for the first time ever. Being an MS warrior and an MS Champion means everything to me.

 

I'd be honored if you would donate to the cause. 

 

Ride on,

 

Melinda