As an athlete and educator, Melissa’s always lived an active lifestyle. Shaken by her MS diagnosis, Melissa was nervous about her future. But through the MS community, she’s found passion, connection, and a treatment option that works for her: ZEPOSIA.
Melissa was pursuing her master’s degree, teaching, coaching, and training for her first marathon when one day she noticed numbness in her feet.
When her symptoms started to interrupt her training, she began to seek answers. Melissa was referred to a neurologist. Her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed signs of MS, and her neurologist confirmed the diagnosis.
Her MS diagnosis was a shock, and Melissa’s positive attitude faltered. She was worried about her future, even reluctant to tell her friends about her diagnosis. But when she finally did, their positivity and support helped Melissa find something important: a community.
Through a coworker’s recommendation, Melissa signed up to participate in MS bike rides. Through this group, she was connected to her new neurologist, an MS specialist. Melissa’s neurologist told her about ZEPOSIA, a once-daily pill for relapsing MS. Her neurologist thought ZEPOSIA would be a good fit for her, so Melissa began treatment.
Melissa has now been taking ZEPOSIA for a year. She and her neurologist have a strong relationship. They check in monthly and are pleased with her results. With help from ZEPOSIA, exercise, stress management, and a healthy sleep schedule, Melissa has been able to focus on her goals.
She is now an assistant principal at an elementary school and remains highly active in the MS community. She attends events, has become an advocate for those who don’t feel comfortable sharing their MS diagnosis, and has raised over $120,000 with her MS bike ride team to date.