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Walk MS Superheroes

Kristine: #WeAreStrongerThanMS

Kristine KK Demafeliz
 

MS...it is not a part of me. It is who I am.

MS is the debilitating, blinding, and crippling disease that I used to fear years ago. Being diagnosed at only 18 years of age while in college, I was in denial and did not know what the heck was going on with my body. Imagine a teenager having the entire right side of their body paralyzed with temporary blindness and speech impairment. You honestly didn't know what was going to cure you! Would it be medication? Would it be a miracle? A combination of both?

I didn't know what at the time! What will it take for me to get through this?! The simple answer is strength, a positive attitude, and faith.

In October 1998, I was diagnosed with MS after having two massive exacerbations within a 6 month period. The second exacerbation affected my balance and equilibrium and caused temporarily blindness. I kept encountering problem after problem, but having my mother by my side and the physicians at the Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco helped me get through my suffering. 


Once I was diagnosed and learned more about this disease I had, I told myself, "I will overcome this. I will tackle my MS headstrong and be open to others about it on helping me fight this, together."

Being 18 years old, you don't know what to do, where to go, or who to turn to... but I came to realize that I am really the only person that must overcome this and fight it headstrong. My older brother Mike passed away two years prior to me being diagnosed and I was initially feeling depressed and suicidal about my diagnosis. At the same time, I came to realize that Mike wouldn't want to see me do this to myself and go out like a "sucka." I needed to get my act together, stand up, and fight.

And that is when my battle to overcome the disease became stronger! Soon after, I wanted to show and prove to my parents with my internal strength and perseverance that they weren't going to lose me like they did Mike, and that I was going to eventually walk and see againwith their help and the help from the healthcare staff at Kaiser.

 
Kristine KK Demafeliz

Being diagnosed with MS for almost 18 years has shaped me into the person I am today.

Don't get me wrong, I still have my good days and my bad days, but overall, I choose to be strong. I choose to maintain that positive outlook in life. I choose to combat this illness and fight it for myself and for the others who share this illness with me. I know all MS patients have more or less severity of the illness that they have to deal with on a day to day basis, but for me, the same goal needs to be done by all to get through the days -- having faith, hope, and love for one's self to know that we all can fight this disease together.

I've always had this saying in life while growing up: "I always do my best and try my hardest in everything I do in life." Even before the diagnosis I lived by this. But I strongly believe in this and act upon it more now that I am living with a debilitating and unpredictable illness.

I thank God my MS is stable at the present time and I no longer need to use a wheelchair, walker, or a cane. I count my blessings for this everyday. I stand on my two feet today, here to mentor and support those newly diagnosed MS patients.

Regardless if my MS will remain stable or eventually catch up to me down the road, I will do my best now in this present moment to strive and fight a good fight until the very end.

My name is Kristine, and I live with MS.


Who’s Your Walk MS Hero?

Share their (or your) story on your Walk MS personal web page. Then post it on Facebook and ask your friends to consider making a donation. Together, we will beat MS. Together, we are stronger.

 
 

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