"Living with multiple sclerosis has reshaped my life in ways I never imagined. At first, every symptom felt like a thief, quietly stealing the power I once knew. Before my diagnosis, I faced the quiet frustration of being overlooked and too often dismissed by doctors, a reality many Black American women know too well. Coming to terms with the fact that my days would look different required a grief I couldn’t name, yet it also uncovered a strength I didn’t know I possessed. Motherhood became both my greatest challenge and my greatest source of courage; my children remind me daily that love can outshine fear. Through prayer and God’s steady presence, I’ve discovered a deep and lasting peace, learning that gratitude is richest when it’s born from struggle. When you’ve felt the ache of what you lack, you cherish every gift more fully. I share my journey to bring awareness to the face of multiple sclerosis that is too often overlooked: Black American women. Our stories matter. Our voices deserve to be heard. And in telling mine, I hope others will see that even in uncertainty, there is beauty, resilience, and unshakable faith." -Jacquelyn Howard
