Wendy B

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 13 years ago. This past April I was the first person with MS to stand on top of the world, The North Pole. I have climbed 6 of the "Seven Summits" having attempted Everest twice in 2009 and again in 2010 only to have the disease I try so hard to push back at keep me from a summit. But my message is to never give up and we may not attain our goal the way we had originally planned. I couldn't get to the top of the world on Everest because of Multiple Sclerosis but I stood on top of the world on the North Pole. Often we need to redefine our goals and find another way to attain them. We can't give up. That's what life with MS is like. My MS diagnosis has been an epiphany. My motivation is to educate, motivate and challenge those with MS or any challenge to find something they are passionate about and pursue it because I personally know that during the time your mind is engaged doing something you love you hear your soul and the disease takes a back seat. For the past six years I have taken this message to the inner city school children of the Donald McKay Elementary School in East Boston. They are challenged economically, socially, physically and educationally. Every June we climb a mountain in southern New Hampshire. I tell them a mountain is a mountain no matter if it is small or an Everest we always come away with more than we thought and a mountain will always present you with a new perspective. I use my mountains as a metaphor for what life with MS or any challenge is like. We can't always get to the top. We may have to redefine our goals but we don't give up and the view from "the top" is amazing.

Submitted by Anonymous

Perseverance