Dx of PPMS, and the various symptoms that PPMS involves, has led Carmen to modify her guiding motto from “Go hard or go home” to “Go hard, then get home!” …although “go hard” sure looks a lot different than it used to!
When she was Dx in 2013, her Neurologist informed her that she was eligible for Long Term Disability. However, she continued working a further 8+yrs as a Registered Nurse within the Maternal/Perinatal/Child field, a dream vocation from her childhood. After the intense stress of working through the COVID Pandemic, where gratefully, she was able to support her team working from home, she realized she could no longer afford to devote most of her ever-decreasing energy to her colleagues and clients. In June 2021 she made the heartbreaking decision to end her career in order to focus on her own health.
PPMS has turned out to be a formidable adversary, even for the determined Carmalita. Connecting with her peers through AnCan’s MS support group, she has found support and true understanding from others also struggling with this thief of a disease.
Carmen lives in the Beautiful Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada with her husband. While she misses her meaningful work, being more available to spend time with her young nephews and nieces who live close by, along with her supportive immediate family, have been one huge benefit of being free of work responsibilities. With the help of “Carmy’s Cruiser” she’s also maintained some independence and has found joy working in her patio flower garden.