MS Hits Home

Family participates in annual walk to
raise awareness of crippling illness.

Daniel Cherrin
Special to the Jewish News

F

our years ago, after the birth of
our third child, my wife, Marni,
was diagnosed with multiple scle-
rosis (MS) at age 30.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune
disease caused by damage to the myelin
sheath, the protective covering that sur-
rounds nerve cells. When this nerve
covering is damaged, nerve impulses are
slowed down or stopped.
The nerve damage is caused by inflam-
mation, which occurs when the body's
own immune cells attack the nervous
system. Repeated episodes of inflamma-
tion can occur along any area of the brain,
optic nerve and spinal cord.
The disease affects an estimated
400,000 people in the U.S. While typically
not fatal, it can cause an array of debili-
tating symptoms, including fatigue, vision

problems and even paralysis.
Unlike other diseases, unless it affects
your vision or your ability to walk, you
would not know someone, like my wife,
has it. In fact, MS affects each person
differently. They could lose the feeling in
their arms, legs or waist; they can lose
vision in one eye or both or lose their
ability to walk or perhaps speak. You just
don't know.
In May, my family, along with our
friends and supporters, walked in the MS
Walk in downtown Detroit. This was our
third walk and a family tradition that
our children look forward to each year.
It is our chance to raise awareness about
MS and those affected by it as well as
raise money to find a cure. Thanks to our
friends in Detroit, St. Louis, New York and
Toronto, TEAM MTC raised thousands of
dollars in three states and two countries
to help cure MS.
There is no question that having MS

Marni Cherrin, Dillon Field and Marjie Field, all of Huntington Woods

or having someone as close to you as I
do with MS puts life into perspective. It
makes us appreciate the opportunity to
spend quality time with each other and
our family and to appreciate what we have
rather than worry about what we have
not.
Marni is a person with an unbelievable
spirit and enormous drive to enjoy every
day. Her "can-do" attitude has served as
an inspiration to me and to young women

and young moms going through the very
same experiences who rely on Marni for
support, candor and counsel.
To show support, visit the website www.
bit.ly/kho4LQ. For information about MS,
go to www.nationalmssociety.org. H

Daniel Cherrin of Huntington Woods is married

to Marni Timen Cherrin and recently celebrated

11 years of marriage. They are the proud par-

ents of three Hillel Day School students.

"Our hospital is Huron Valley-Sinai"

or text ER to 42660

When it's serious go to DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, the only hospital
in the area with emergency angioplasty and the DMC 29-Minute Guarantee.

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at Commerce and Commerce in Commerce

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248-937-3300 • www.hvsh.org

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Huron Valley-Sinai
Hospital

always there.

June 30 2011

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