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through the looking glass - people of the city


Back and Forth: The roller-coaster ride of living with multiple sclerosis


By MEGAN LACELLE


MS. Two simple letters that can change a life in one diagnosis. Years of being on an information rollercoaster has led many multiple sclerosis patients to seek treatment outside Canada, in hopes for a cure. The question remains, what is the future for these patients?


Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency, better known as CCSVI, was once believed to be an answer to those suffering. Now years later, it is not recognized as a viable treatment in Canada, creating mixed feelings for some in Alberta.


Beth Cheverie sits in her Medicine Hat home with her two dogs, Kona and Angel,


playfully running around. Photos along the wall depict a happy family of four. Beth, 45, her husband Blaine, 49, their daughter Lauren, 18, and son Steven, soon to be 17. If it wasn't for the walker situated by Beth's side one wouldn't know she was suffering from MS.


"The flowers on the kitchen table could be thrown out, but I would never pick up a glass vase," Beth says, describing how her grip is either too tight or too loose, so picking up the vase could spell disaster in seconds. It’s one of the symptoms of Beth's MS.


Diagnosed with relapsing and remitting MS in 2002, Beth and her husband Blaine have had their struggles, but describe a


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life that they've filled with laughter and acceptance. Although they've grown to accept MS's place in their lives, the couple still hopes for a cure.


Upon hearing about CCSVI, the Cheveries hoped Canada would provide the treatment. However, after a year of waiting, the couple decided to pursue the treatment alone. In 2011, along with their family, they travelled to Costa Rica so Beth could undergo the procedure.


A treatment developed by Dr. Paolo Zamboni, CCSVI addresses the amount of blood flow to the brain. Zamboni is an Italian vascular surgeon whose wife has MS. It was at the University of Ferrara in 2009 that he concluded that lessening of blood flow led to some symptoms of MS. Surgeons analyze and remove the blockages in veins believed to lead to some MS symptoms. Now the results seem inconclusive. Studies now say that the relationship between blocked veins and the symptoms of MS do not correlate accurately. As for patients, some say it helps permanently, others say temporarily relief and others don't believe it helps at all.


Beth and Blaine don't regret their decision though. Blaine says it helped, while Beth doesn't seem sure.


"Has it helped? I don't know. I do feel better, I do feel good, but would I feel


good without taking it? I don't know," Beth says. Immediate results from the procedure and the physiotherapy were positive, but almost three years later Beth is still dealing with symptoms of MS.


One of the more obvious symptoms is her problems with balance, using a walker in her home and often a wheelchair in public.


"We don't let it hold us back," said Blaine. They joke with each other to get through the tough days.


"I see a lot of couples walking hand in hand and Beth and I have accepted that we can't do that. Instead she has a power scooter and she tries to run me over," Blaine chuckles.


The couple has seen the ups and downs of living with MS. Beth can no longer work due to her symptoms, but says her day is typical of many mothers and wives.


"I get up, have a cup of coffee, shower, get dressed, do whatever has to be done around the house, you know, feed the dogs. Typical everyday routine. My son comes home from school and I ask him about his day and I get the typical two word answer," Beth smiles.


It took years for the couple to accept the diagnosis, Beth said every time she thought about the future she would cry,


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90 2014 REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA


Beth Cheverie's husband Blaine is a pillar of support for her as she lives with multiple sclerosis. The couple say they use humour to get through the harder days.


41139354•03/25/14


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