Autoimmune

Dr. Thomas Flynn – The Healer Becomes the Patient (Pt. 2)

In the previous issue of ABILITY Magazine, Gina Velasquez sat down with her former ophthalmologist, Dr. Thomas Flynn, and his daughter, Dr. Erin Flynn, also an ophthalmologist. Together, they reflected on the height of the AIDS epidemic in New York City during the 1980s and 1990s — a period when Dr. Flynn purposefully took on … Read more

Dr. Thomas Flynn— AIDS Through the Eyes of an Ophthalmologist

During the 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Thomas Flynn worked as an ophthalmologist and retina specialist in New York City. Looking for the most difficult job he could find, Dr. Flynn ran toward patients who were going blind while dying with AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), which is caused by HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). At the … Read more

Beyond the Obstacles: Matt Iseman on Hosting, Humor and Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Matt Iseman, a physician who specialized in internal medicine, took a break from the stress of his first year internship working in an intensive care unit. He ended up in comedy and never looked back. Catching the “comedy bug” led Iseman to a completely new career that now spans Emmy-winning television, live comedy, and some … Read more

Caterina Scorsone Interview

Caterina Scorsone is a Canadian-American actress who has appeared in various films and television series, including her well known portrayal as Dr. Amelia Shepherd on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. In 2020, Scorsone won the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award from the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, recognizing her outstanding commitment to championing the rights and well-being of … Read more

Inappropriate Medical Advances

I consider myself a fairly simple man with some common sense. Having a life long auto immune disease like Multiple Sclerosis certainly provides me plenty of opportunities to witness dumb and dangerous decisions from our healthcare system. The United States probably has the greatest doctors, medications and treatments in the world. However, rules and regulations … Read more

Selma Blair Interview

Acclaimed actress, best-selling author and disability advocate, Selma Blair is teaming up with renowned fashion designer, Isaac Mizrahi, to launch a line of accessible fashion on QVC. Blair, who has been actively working to build awareness about MS since her own revelation in 2018, is bringing her advocacy to stylish apparel. This new collaboration brings … Read more

What is Multiple sclerosis and where are the top health centers

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerve fibers, called myelin, leading to inflammation, damage, and disruption of nerve signals. This can result in a wide range of symptoms, such … Read more

Long Haul Paul Fighting MS —HELP is Not a Four Letter Word

Helping friends and family is part of everyday life. Helping neighbors in our local communities or people on the other side of the world is what makes most humans, well, humane. Whenever I help out a friend or neighbor it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I believe sharing my story of living … Read more

MS Drug — Ampyra: A New Gait For Independence

Circa 2010 In January 2010, the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved AMPRYA (dalfampridine) extended release tablets to improve walking capabilities for patients with multiple schlerosis (MS). In clinical trials, patients who took AMPYRA had faster walking speeds than those who received a placebo. AMPYRA is the first drug that the FDA has approved for … Read more

Lia Martirosyan — Music and Laughter

It’s true, in an instant, your life can change; an accident, a ruptured aneurysm, blunt trauma to the head, a cancer diagnosis. With Lia, it’s been slow, temperamental and undiagnosed. Her blasé attitude makes one wonder if she’s just used to her body’s deception. She isn’t, she just knows where her energy is best … Read more

Long Haul Paul’s Nonstop to Nowhere World Record Attempt to Raise Funds for MS

When you throw all the activities I have done in the last six years to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis charities, it adds up to $130,000. That’s about 37 cents for every mile that I have traveled raising awareness. If I wasn’t such a chicken, I would change my tagline to ride a million … Read more

Celiac

Celiac Disease: Living Gluten Free Celiac disease (CD), also called celiac sprue, nontropical sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the immune system mistakenly identifies part of the body as a foreign object and mounts an attack against it. For genetically susceptible individuals who develop CD, the ingestion of gluten, … Read more

Malcolm Smith — A Ride Down Memory Lane

Circa 2010-11 Meeting up with Malcolm Smith stands as one of the most unique interviewing experiences of my life. Seated in the large showroom of Malcolm Smith Motorsports in Riverside, CA, I find myself mulling over a variety of ways to approach my introduction. Do I start off with, “Hey, how have you been? Long … Read more

Multiple Sclerosis – One Day At The Beach

Over the years, our daughters have brought home various young men to ‘meet the parents.’ After a long, dry spell, our California daughter, Melissa, had someone she hoped we’d welcome to the family. She had gotten lucky through one of those .com mating sites. In keeping with her interest in politics, she and Charlie met … Read more

Celiac Disease — Living Gluten-Free

Circa 2005 Celiac disease (CD), also called celiac sprue, nontropical sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the immune system mistakenly identifies part of the body as a foreign object and mounts an attack against it. For genetically susceptible individuals who develop CD, the ingestion of gluten, a component of … Read more