Moms with MS is a community by and for Mothers who have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis to provide peer support through this journey of raising a family while dealing with the diagnosis. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease that is considered to be one of the top causes of disability in young adults typically diagnosed between the ages of 20-40 and the ratio of Women being diagnosed compared to Men is 2-3:1. Women between the ages of 20-40 of course are also in the midst of their fertile years,and are either having,trying to have,or trying NOT to have babies,this adds a lot of complications when you throw MS into the picture because virtually none of the treatments recommended by the mainstream medical community are considered safe through pregnancy or breastfeeding causing moms and moms to be with a lot of very difficult and awkward decisions to make about what ‘could’happen to them and their babies.
Moms with MS was created as an online peer support network by Kristin Bennett when she was confronted by her MS almost 8 years after being diagnosed and 2 months after having her second baby and her right leg and arm virtually stopped working. Being faced with these unsafe treatment options and contradictory recommendations about breastfeeding sparked an intense interest in finding other moms,and she ended up creating a place online where moms who have multiple sclerosis are now able to both get and give peer-support.
It was launched on July 1,2009. We have grown quickly since and we are in the process of building out our resources by region for mom-friendly treatments,centers,and much more. We have gotten national recognition as well as local that you can read about HERE.
If you are a Mom with MS our community is at:http://www.MomsWithMS.com please come join us! Be sure to fill out all the profile questions as incomplete applications are declined so as to protect the privacy and integrity of our group.
Many people have attempted to join our site to learn more about what we as moms with MS face and as it is a community for moms only but we absolutely benefit from sharing our experience these people have prompted the addition of 5+ public mom bloggers who have made themselves and their stories available for you to browse,comment and even ask questions of. It is an exciting addition to our site as a resource for our partners and more,please take your time and browse around while being respectful of the fact we are all on different journeys!
We have also created a National Moms With MS Team for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society 2010 Walk MS and Bike MS events with a growing number of representative local teams as well! Our goals with having this national team are to raise awareness of our existence as support resource to all moms who are diagnosed with MS. Anyone can create a team that raises funds under our National Team,please don’t hesitate to do so as we are grateful for all participants who are helping to spread the word!!
If you know someone with MS and are interested in learning more or have questions please see the form we have in the side bar where you can ask any of our mombloggers questions to be responded to at a later date!
While we are building out our resources,managing all of our many teams,writing our press releases,looking into becoming established as a non-profit and more we appreciate any and all contributions that you have to share! If you have a service you would like to advertise on our site or would like to make a donation towards expanding our presence please go HERE for more instructions!! Also if you have any legal or non-profit establishment experience that you would like to share please contact Kristin at:206-351-5748
Donations are more than a little bit welcome as we are getting established as well as referring any moms with MS who you personally know so that they are aware there is a place where other moms like them are available to talk.
Every little bit counts!!
Thank you!!
Kristin Bennett
Founder of MomsWithMS.org
To all viewers,This site means so much to a lot of us young mothers with kids. Finally found a site I can relate with. I’m so thankful to be a part of this. I need something to keep my mind busy while going through these hardest times of my life. I even share it with my family and kids. We all need help in so many different ways,and this is one way closer to getting it. By being heard and supported. Bless you all and thank you. From your friend Tammy
I wish Moms with MS was around when my children were young. They are both in their twenties now,but of course,their still MY children and I’m still THEIR Mom.
Twenty-three years of parenting with MS has been a challenge,as I deal with a daughter with disabilities and my own challenges with MS. Although the disease has had an impact on my family,I try to keep them positive about life in general.
I’m living optimistically about my son,daughter,husband and my life in the never-ending world of MS.