Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 18, 2002)
THE BAT! AggieLife THE BATTALION 3A Thursday, April 18, 2002 pent his >• Brewer rt School of ns been nee 1993. Ht 'niversity ofAr, undergraduate: ie Texas Tei student. Rb ^ i school bandh Iwtorate in ma /e three verytj Kiblersauij lis entire caret; inning the battle Aggies Fighting Multiple Sclerosis strengthens students, raises money for cure By Beth Brown THE BATTALION I For 21 years, senior agricultural economics major Amy Neely led a normal, healthy life. But _ J 1997, Neely was diagnosed with Multiple s Xliul uor ' k ‘ Sclerosis, and her life changed forever, s. Fhe thirdcaaiH “i had just returned from a vacation on South extensive baocMadre Island when I noticed my left arm went 11 V- Any one ||iumb,” Neely said. I After a week of waiting for the numbness to go away, Neely went to the doctor and was told she }iad a pinched nerve. But a month later, the numb ness had not gone away. I “[I went to] see a neurologist... and he wanted to schedule me for an MRI. I said OK and went home,” Neely said. But when she got home, Neely found herself nable to use the restroom. Neely was rushed to ghe hospital where several MRI’s were performed. “By the fourth day of my second attack, which as no better, I found out that I had Multiple ficlerosis” Neely said. Many Aggies have heard of Multiple Sclerosis, 3r MS, but most do not know what the disease is. . sinj™ Today, Multiple Sclerosis, as defined by the j lin i 1 [ ,us : n an jn Mayo Clinic, is a chronic disease of the central icrvous system which is comprised of the brain ind spinal cord; the CNS (central nervous system) sends and receives signals through a network of nerves insulated by a protective protein coating called myelin,” Neely said. “[With Multiple Sclerosis], the myelin is bro ken down, causing disruption in these signals.” In 2001, Neely founded Aggies Fighting Multiple Sclerosis on the A&M campus. She began the organization to help fight the disease. “I knew a lot of other people who also had MS and decided that I wanted to do something to pro mote awareness and raise money for research while volunteering to help others within the com munity who have MS,” Neely said. 1 step inio ik ave to decide of all.” nts were as!; '. videos orpre • they had cone, sere required! legree in mu\. on to overseer d. the new dr the head of symphonic Ik Jazz Ensemble. Orchestra, Toncert Bandr rector will also of the newly-crd JILLIAN QUAST • THE BATTALION Amy Neely, a senior agricultural economics major, leads the Aggies Fighting Multiple Sclerosis meeting Tuesday night. S IN BRIEF i lent retires j riticism (AP) - Dr , the special ager le Dallas FBI n aavily criticized lonth forwif/itoJc":j in the Tmiothf al, announced tej /ednesday. /ear FBI vetera’ iuld step dc \pril. a long time," he sail ;omment further, gh, 51, « i of the Dallas FBI 198, after leadirf na City bon#! i. if Tuesday night It Defenbaugh woti so fortunate to l ! ' : ond my dreams ng in the areas'- irch for a newarf Set Nails 4 % 13 jpa Pedicure *20.00 , a |idwitha"y° t k' >, ' t || ,USt -It Expires 05-31-W Stephanie Arnaud, a junior elementary edu cation major, joined AFMS this semester. Arnaud has been fighting against MS since the summer of 2000. “The one symptom I deal with day in and day out is the constant fatigue,” Arnaud said. “It makes it hard to stay up and study or even get up to go to class.” Arnaud, like many other sufferers of MS, has found some relief in various medications that fight the disease. “I have been dealing [with the disease] by tak ing Avonex, medication that is injected intramus cularly, which is no fun since I hate needles,” Arnaud said. Arnaud has also found relief among the mem bers of AFMS. “I am so glad that I have found this group,” Arnaud said. “It’s nice to know that there are other people my age dealing with this (disease), whether they have MS themselves, or know a friend or family member with it.” Renee Gillman, a junior finance major, is faced with MS in a different way. Gillman’s mother, Denyse Henry, has the disease. “It has affected my life in the sense that I wish my mom could do more things that she wants to do,” Gillman said. “It’s hard for me to know exact ly what she can and can’t do because she pushes herself a lot, so I wish I could understand what she is going through.” Gillman said her work with AFMS is a way to help others who are experiencing the dis ease. “Hopefully through this organization, we can raise awareness and maybe some money to donate to the MS society,” Gillman said. “Most impor tantly, 1 would just like to volunteer for MS fund raising events and volunteer in the community to help people around here with anything that they need help with.” AFMS has some big events coming up that it hopes will help the fight against Multiple Sclerosis. “Currently we are planning to volunteer for the MS 150, which is a bike ride from Houston to Austin; this is the biggest fund-raiser for MS,” Gillman said. “In the future, we hope to put on a walk-a-thon here with the help of the national MS chapter.” Despite the hardships that come with MS, many who have been diagnosed with the dis ease have grown stronger and more determined as people. “I firmly believe that because of MS I will graduate from A&M in December. Because of MS I was strong enough to apply and get a Congressional internship In Washington, D.C.,” Neely said. “Because of MS I am a lot stronger and less scared of the world.” Need an Edge Over Your Peers? Beat Out Your Competition in the Work Force With the Experience You Gain in: Academy for Future International Leaders Meet One Night a Week Gain Three Hours Credit Meet International Business Executives Have a Stand-Out Resume Application Requirements: • Classification of junior/senior by the spring of 2002 • Minimum GPR of 3.0 • Active in leadership/extracurricular activities • Interest in gaining an international perspective • Two years of a foreign language recommended (not required) Only 18 Students Chosen • Pick Up Your Application Today at: http7/intlnentertamu.edu/Academv/index.htm For more informstion: Call 862-6700 Turn in Your Application by May 3 to the International Center at the Bush Library Complex Place® UJe Hear Vou! t$tw*** f "’""T 1 You asfred for it. You got it! Vou asked the Crossing Place team to create apartments for students Luith contemporary furnishings and a comfortable clubhouse inhere you’d hang out... We heard you! fls an added bonus, zero deposit is rcQuired! Bnd if that’s not enough, you’ll get $150 instant cash if you finalize a lease nOW for Hugust moue in Of a MOVeHn gift- LUe really listen and take prompt action to please students. Restrictions apply. Offers subject to change. 400 Southwest Parkway From Texas Ruenue, turn west on Southwest Parkway. Crossing Place is on your left before Wellborn Road. Leasing Center (Culpepper Plaza): 1619 S. Texas Rue. College Station, TH 77840