People always ask about the story behind my “Quest for MS”, so here is an abbreviated version.

 

When my aunt Jeannie was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of 38, she had no way of knowing what was in store for her. She had found her bliss as a music teacher and loved her life. She contributed so much good to the world.

 

Over the years, she would experience blurred vision and then her legs slowly stopped working. At first she utilized a cane, went to a walker and eventually ended up using a motorized scooter. After the age of 50, she was in and out of the hospital and every time had to start from scratch again, doing intense physical therapy, trying to get some use of her legs back.

 

In the spring of 2005, I was out in Seattle recording the final song for my “Tenderly” CD. I was already having a challenge recording “When October Goes” as the lyrics would get me choked up. My phone rang when I took a break from recording and it was my sister telling that my aunt Jeannie had been rushed to the hospital, was in septic shock in a coma – and they didn’t know if she would make it.

 

Now, I come from an extremely close family and I was always especially close to my auntie Jeannie. I knew that at that moment, she would have wanted me to “suck it up” and finish my CD. So, through the tears and a swollen throat, I completed the song.

 

When I got back to Minnesota, she had finally come out of the coma, but now was completely paralyzed.

 

From that time until the time of her death in June of 2008, she was in and out of hospitals and suffered greatly. If you think of how Christopher Reeve was after his tragic accident - that was very similar to what this horrible disease did to Jeannie. MS took one of the most vibrant, energetic and physically strong people I’ve ever known – and robbed her of her beautiful life.  She was only 55 years old when she lost her battle with MS.

 

At her funeral, hundreds of her music students from her 30 years of teaching packed the church.  Some even flew in from other parts of the country because they said she had changed their lives. Our family choir was joined by 60 of her students up on the altar to celebrate her life through song.

 

My annual “Quest for MS” is a way that I can honor her memory. Since she loved my CD and the holiday season was her favorite time of year, it seemed only fitting.

 

I thank all of you who have participated in my previous MS drives and I am so grateful to those of you who have already chosen to get involved this year!

I wish you all a blessed Christmas and Holiday Season and a very Happy and Healthy New Year!

Wendy