A Couple Takes on MS

"We aren't looking for answers yet. We're learning how to sit with the questions." As we prepare for an upcoming appointment with our neurologist, a simple question from Jennifer sparked a conversation neither of us expected to have. What if Dan's MS has progressed? To be clear, nothing has changed. We haven't received any new diagnosis, and Dan has not been reclassified from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary progressive MS. But after nearly three decades of living with Multiple Sclerosis and noticeable changes in his gait and energy levels, it felt like an important conversation to have. In this episode, we talk openly about our fears, questions, and uncertainties that can come with long-term MS. We discuss: What prompted us to start talking about disease progression before our upcoming neurology appointment How physical therapy has revealed both strengths and challenges in Dan's mobility and endurance Jennifer's experience transitioning from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary progressive MS years ago The realities of caregiving, aging, and adapting to changes in ability over time Why community, conversation, and preparation matter when facing difficult questions about the future More than anything, this episode is about facing possibilities without letting them define us. Regardless of what happens at our next neurology appointment, we are still the same people we were before we walked into the office. We hope you'll join us for this conversation, especially if you've ever wondered what the future might hold for your MS or how to navigate the uncertainty that comes with living with a chronic illness. *** Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

“For a long time, I assumed caregiving was simply what spouses do. Then hernia surgery showed me just how much family caregivers carry every day.” We have participated in Older Michiganians Day at the Michigan State Capitol for more than two decades, advocating for programs and policies that help people age and live independently in their own homes. What began as advocacy for Jennifer and the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program has evolved into something much broader: advocating for caregivers, aging in place, and the support systems that help people live with dignity in their own homes. In this episode, we reflect on a surprising realization that the young couple who first attended Older Michiganians Day more than 20 years ago (that’s us!) now officially qualify as "older Michiganians" themselves. We discuss Dan's opportunity to speak on the Capitol lawn about family caregiving, the lessons learned during his recent hernia surgery recovery, and why support for unpaid family caregivers is becoming increasingly important as Michigan's population ages. In this episode, we get real about: Realizing we have become the "older Michiganians" we once joked about not being How the MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program helps Jennifer remain at home The often-invisible work performed by unpaid family caregivers Proposed Michigan legislation supporting family caregivers Aging with Multiple Sclerosis while continuing to advocate for change We hope this conversation encourages you to learn more about caregiving, advocacy, and the importance of supporting those who support others. Here are the links that offer further insights into our conversation: This conversation serves as a companion to our recent Older Michiganians Day essay, where we share photos from the event, Dan's speech, and additional information about the caregiving advocacy efforts discussed in this episode. Learn more about the Michigan MI Choice Medicaid Waiver Program Explore Older Michiganians Day 2026 resources supporting family caregivers and aging in place Thank you for listening to A Couple Takes on MS. We are honored to be included among FeedSpot's 40 Best Multiple Sclerosis Podcasts. While rankings aren't why we do this work, we're grateful for the opportunity to share our experiences and connect with others navigating life with MS. *** Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

“Is it ever enough… or are we always waiting for the next breakthrough, the next voice, the next reason to hope?” We found ourselves in an unexpected place for this episode: talking about Multiple Sclerosis (MS) through the lens of the NFL Draft. Of course, the #1 overall draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was making lots of headlines, but the stories went way beyond his leadership on the football field. Mendoza also was gaining attention for championing efforts to raise awareness and funding for research to end MS, the disease which his mom, Elsa, has lived with since 2008. So when a high-profile moment shines a spotlight on MS, whether it’s with the #1 NFL draft pick or a celebrity diagnosis, it raises a bigger question: What do we actually want from that attention? Visibility definitely opens the doors for MS advocacy and research, but it can also create comparisons that don’t reflect the reality of living with MS. As with everything in MS, there is more than one answer. In this episode, we explore the complicated mix of MS awareness, expectations, frustration, and hope that comes with seeing Multiple Sclerosis represented in the public eye and across media. We talk about: The impact of celebrity MS stories on awareness and perception Why increased visibility doesn’t always lead to a cure for MS How different voices shape the narrative around chronic illness and disability Why “control what you can control” matters when living with MS We also reflect on how far the MS community has come—from just a few disease-modifying therapies to more than two dozen today—and why, even with that progress, it still can feel like we’re waiting. Here are the links that offer further insights into our conversation: Listen to the MeSsy podcast with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler Learn more about our Walk MS team, Team MonsterS, and how you can support us Check out the powerful video from Max the Dollar Kid and consider making your $1 donation *** We’d love to hear from you What do you expect when celebrities or public figures talk about MS? Share your thoughts in the comments or email us at [email protected]. Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease

“I don’t expect to see a cure in my lifetime… but I will never give up hope.” Some conversations feel bigger than the milestone they represent. As we reach Episode 100 of the A Couple Takes on MS Podcast, we knew this moment was about more than looking back. It was about honoring the people […]

“How would you feel if everybody’s talking about you behind your back? You need to be talking to the actual patient.” Just days before our conversation for this episode, Briana Landis was on Capitol Hill advocating for the Multiple Sclerosis community and bringing real stories into rooms where decisions are made. Her work in Multiple Sclerosis advocacy continues to push for better research, access, and patient-centered care. This is nothing new for Briana. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at just 4 years old, she has spent her life turning her lived experience into action. In this episode, Briana, now 28, shares what it means to grow up with MS, step into advocacy, and speak up in spaces where patient voices are often missing. We take a deep dive with Briana into: A behind-the-scenes look at advocating for Multiple Sclerosis on Capitol Hill Why patient voices must be part of healthcare conversations What it's really like growing up with MS and what still needs to change How small moments of advocacy can lead to real impact Briana does so much more than talk about advocacy. She lives it. And in doing so, she reminds all of us that our stories carry weight, especially when they’re shared in the right rooms, at the right time. Here are the links we referenced that offer further insights into our conversation: • Watch Briana’s TED Talk The Nerve to Synapse: Connecting as My Body Disconnects • Explore the details about the two priority issues that Briana and nearly 170 activists took to Capitol Hill in late March • Learn more about how you can share your voice and get involved with advocacy through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society • Donate to support Briana’s fundraising efforts for Briana’s Team at the Raleigh Walk MS event *** Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

In this episode of A Couple Takes on MS, we welcome Brian Wallace, a former University of Michigan offensive lineman who helped lead the Wolverines to four Big Ten championships and three Rose Bowl appearances. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1997 at age 27, Brian has spent nearly three decades navigating life with MS while continuing to move forward. Today, Brian hosts the MS Michigan Man 64 Podcast, where he shares honest conversations about life with chronic illness and the mindset it takes to keep going. Brian joins us to talk about football, life after diagnosis, the mental challenges of chronic illness, and why community and conversation matter so much in the MS world. In this episode, we talk with Brian about: His journey from Michigan football to living with MS How a competitive mindset helped shape his approach to the disease How isolation can affect people living with chronic illness and the importance of community Why he started the MS Michigan Man 64 Podcast to focus on positive, honest conversations about life with MS The emotional and mental health challenges of living with Multiple Sclerosis Why building community and sharing stories matters 👉 You can explore Brian’s podcast here: MS Michigan Man 64 Podcast From our blog Reflecting on the conversation with Brian, Jennifer recently revisited an essay she wrote about the Michigan football game she missed shortly after her MS diagnosis and the lesson it taught her about living with Multiple Sclerosis without regrets. 👉 Read the essay here: The biggest Michigan game I missed and the lesson MS taught me *** Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

When you’re diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), there’s often an unspoken expectation that you’ll process it, accept it, and eventually move on. But what happens when the thing you’re supposed to “move on” from is a chronic, progressive disease that you carry with you every single day? In this honest and deeply personal conversation, we unpack the myth of moving on with Multiple Sclerosis, and what it really means to live with a long-term neurological condition. From dreams of walking again to small victories like standing and pivoting, we explore what it looks like to live with MS nearly three decades after diagnosis as both patient and caregiver. Is moving on even possible, or is the goal something different? In this episode, we talk about: The difference between moving on and moving forward after an MS diagnosis Living with Multiple Sclerosis for 25+ years and how perspective shifts over time Grief and chronic illness and why it resurfaces even decades later Caregiving and marriage while navigating progressive disability Society’s expectations around acceptance, resilience, and “getting over it” Finding gratitude in small, everyday wins while living with MS Jennifer shares what it’s like to dream about walking and wake up to the reality of mobility challenges. Dan reflects on accepting numb hands, shifting abilities, and life as a caregiver to a spouse with MS. Together, we wrestle with a question many in the chronic illness community quietly carry: Can you ever really move on from Multiple Sclerosis or is acceptance less about closure and more about courage? For those living with Multiple Sclerosis, caregiving for someone with MS, or navigating any chronic illness, this episode is a reminder that grief doesn’t have an expiration date. But neither does resilience. We’d love to hear from you! Do you ever have moments where you forget you have Multiple Sclerosis? What does “moving forward” look like in your life right now? Email us at [email protected] to help keep this conversation going. *** Remember to rate, review, and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

In this episode of A Couple Takes on MS, we sit down with our pastor, Pastor Dana Hendershot, to talk about one of the biggest questions that can rise up after a diagnosis like MS (or cancer): Why did God let this happen? Dan reflects on 26 years since his MS diagnosis and how faith can change over time, not always through easy answers, but through presence, perspective, and community. Pastor Dana shares the moment her theology of suffering shifted, what she learned during her own cancer journey, and why it’s okay to bring every emotion to God. Including anger. We talk about prayer as breath, the difference between “God caused this” and “God is with you in this,” why joy only exists in the present moment, and how hope sometimes looks like being carried by others when you can’t carry yourself. In this episode, we get real with Pastor Dana about: • Where God is in diagnosis and suffering • Why it’s OK to be angry with God (and why God can handle it) • Prayer as presence and the Spirit as the promise • Theology of the cross vs. theology of glory • Hope, community, and being carried when you’re worn down • Finding joy right now and why singing can help shift your mind And Jennifer expands on this podcast (and a metaphor from Pastor Dana that she ca't getrb out of her head in her essay, “Multiple Sclerosis and faith: the rip in our canvas.” An open invitation for you, our listeners Where have you felt God’s presence during a difficult season in your life? We’d love to hear from you at [email protected]. About our guest: Pastor Dana Hendershot is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and has served as Senior Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, since 2011. Dana holds a degree in psychology with a focus in neuropsychology and a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, where her studies explored the intersection of science and faith. In addition to her congregational ministry, Dana serves as Chair of the Lutheran Alliance for Faith, Science, and Technology, helping lead national conversations about how theology, scientific discovery, and human curiosity connect. Her writing has appeared in Working Preacher, The Lutheran, and Lutheran Partners, where she brings thoughtful theology into everyday lived experience. In 2023, Dana was diagnosed with Large Cell B Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and underwent extensive treatment. That experience deepened her understanding of the body, vulnerability, and what it means to show up for others with compassion and presence. Dana has also been deeply involved in community advocacy. She helped establish Mount Pleasant’s first rotating homeless shelter—Isabella County Restoration House—serves on Central Michigan University’s Institutional Review Board, and previously served on the Interfaith Action of Southwest Florida Board of Directors while advocating for farmworker justice alongside the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. *** Remember to rate, review and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

Recovery doesn’t happen in isolation, and when you live with Multiple Sclerosis, even a “routine” surgery can totally upend daily life. In this episode of A Couple Takes on MS, we get real and open up on the weeks following Dan’s hernia surgery and how recovery has affected our caregiving dynamic, routines and sense of normalcy. Just 11 days post-surgery, we share what we feared most, what surprised us, and how preparation, flexibility, and community support have helped us navigate this unfamiliar chapter together. This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply human as we get into everything that comes with having a routine (yet major surgery) when both people in a relationship are living with MS and serve as each other’s primary caregivers, including: Adjusting our caregiver schedules and transfer procedures Managing spasticity Altering sleep schedules Incorporating dignity-preserving tools Dealing with the emotional weight of temporarily giving up things we love It’s also a reminder that healing is more than physical. It’s also relational. Here are the links we referenced that offer depth and insights for our conversation: Dan’s healing: The night before – Link to check out Jennifer’s emotional essay written, well, the night before Dan’s surgery. Dan’s healing: The weeks after surgery – Link to check out Jennifer’s follow-up essay highlighting the realities we had to face. PureWick – Link to learn about the in-home urine collection system we discuss in the episode. An open invitation for you, our listeners Have you experienced surgery as a patient or caregiver? What helped you through recovery? We’d love to hear from you at [email protected]. *** Remember to rate, review and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

In this episode of A Couple Takes on MS, we’re honored to welcome Sarah Locke, founder of Locke’s Promise, a New Hampshire–based nonprofit born from her own lived experience with Multiple Sclerosis. Sarah shares how Locke’s Promise came to life, from the six-week paperwork marathon it took to get started to the community momentum that […]

What does it look like to keep showing up year after year and mile after mile for the people you love and the cause you believe in? In this episode of A Couple Takes on MS Podcast, we’re joined by Doug Binkley, known throughout the Bike MS community as “Patches” for his ever-growing collection of event patches earned nationwide. His connection to MS is deeply personal. Patches rides in honor of his wife, Diane, who was diagnosed with MS at 26 years old, and his mother, who also lived with the disease. Patches has completed more than 37 Bike MS rides and 40+ century rides over the past 16 years, traveling from state to state to support the MS community in a big way. He has also become a Bike MS volunteer and a passionate fundraiser, reaching the Passport level by raising thousands of dollars to support research, programs and hope. In our conversation, Patches shares what first inspired him to get on the bike, how faith and resilience shape his outlook, and why the camaraderie of the Bike MS community keeps him coming back. We chat about honoring loved ones through action, the motivation that comes from riding alongside others who “get it,” and what it means to commit to something bigger than yourself. As we kick off 2026, Patches reminds us that progress happens through consistency, community and purpose and that every mile, every patch, and every rider truly matters. Listen now to hear his inspiring story and why he’s already gearing up for multiple Bike MS rides in 2026, starting in Louisiana this March. Here are the links we referenced that offer depth and insights for our conversation: Bike MS – Link to learn more about and to register to ride or volunteer at an event in your area Bike MS: Bluegrass Bourbon Ride 2026 – Link to donate and support Patches in one of the several Bike MS events he’ll ride in this year *** Remember to rate, review and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

As we closed out 2025, we found ourselves reflecting on what it really means to keep showing up while living with Multiple Sclerosis and how, sometimes, the best way to move forward is to look back. In this episode of A Couple Takes on MS Podcast, we talk honestly about the opportunities, challenges, adaptations and lessons that shaped our year. We explore how living with MS has taught us to think a few steps ahead, adjust expectations, and stay engaged in the life we want to live, even when it doesn’t look the way we originally imagined. This includes sharing stories about travel, graduations, concerts, sporting events and everyday moments with friends; all through the lens of one guiding question: Is the juice worth the squeeze? That question helps us decide when to push forward, when to pause, and how to reframe what “showing up” really looks like. This conversation also touches on: Adapting plans when MS or caregiving realities change suddenly Accepting help and recognizing that doing so is a strength, not a weakness Planning proactively instead of reacting in the moment Letting go of comparisons and focusing on your own personal best Finding joy by staying flexible and open to new possibilities Most of all, this episode is about partnership. This includes showing up for each other, making thoughtful choices together, and continuing to move forward in ways that honor our health, energy and shared goals. To catch some of our best images from this past year, check out Jennifer's blog post How I remember 2025 (without overdoing it). As we look ahead to 2026, we’re reminded that showing up doesn’t have to mean doing everything or doing it perfectly. Sometimes it simply means doing what you can, with what you have, right where you are. Thank you for being part of our community and for continuing to walk and roll alongside us. *** Remember to rate, review and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.

Caregiving is an act of love, but it can also be exhausting, overwhelming, and emotionally heavy. That’s why self-care for caregivers isn’t selfish. It’s essential. In this episode of A Couple Takes on MS, we’re joined by Susanne White, a best-selling author and passionate voice in the caregiver advocacy community. Susanne shares how stepping into a caregiving role for her parents changed her life and ultimately led her to dedicate her work to supporting caregivers everywhere. Together, we talk honestly about the realities caregivers face, including: What caregiver burnout looks like and why it’s often hard to recognize Why guilt so often comes with the caregiving role How the pressure to be perfect and to do everything alone can take a real toll Throughout the conversation, Susanne offers powerful insights about reframing success, accepting imperfection, and learning to be kind to yourself while caring for someone else. Susanne reminds us that caregivers were never meant to do this work in isolation. Community, communication, and self-awareness aren’t optional. They’re essential to sustaining care over time. We also talk about her book, Self-Care for Caregivers, a practical and accessible resource made for caregivers who are short on time but still need support. Here are the links we referenced that offer depth and insights for our conversation: • caregiverwarrior.com – Official website for you to access Susanne’s perspectives and insights on living as a caregiver and getting the support you need. • Self-Care for Caregivers: A Practical Guide to Caring for You While You Care for Your Loved One – Learn more about and order your copy of Susanne’s book that’s described as, “The ultimate caregivers’ guide to resilience, strength, and balance.”  *** Remember to rate, review and subscribe to A Couple Takes on MS Podcast for two insightful perspectives on this one multifaceted disease.