This website is a collaboration of ideas originally conceived by Rubiana, Ruth & Ken. Lori and Sandra joined the team and brought with them a wealth of knowledge and talent.
The name of our project "MS SUPPORT " was natural as we aim to connect multiple "live" MS support groups together as a common unit to amplify their effectiveness.
We realize the need for support in MS chaptered regions of Canada but the lack of resources prevent many in the smaller outlaying communities from attending regular support meetings in a conventional environment.
Today (2007), brings a new age for self help support! We invite you to participate in the discussion forums, (virtual support meetings and events will be held on regularly scheduled interviews).
| Rubiana Malla - I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1992 at age 21. I quit drinking and smoking and started exercising regularly-and I did quite well with the disease for 5 years. In 1997 I went in for a routine ear operation. Unfortunately I woke up from the anesthetic paralyzed on my right side. I lost my voice, speech, balance and coordination. My heart took a pounding too, and I had to relearn how to comb my hair, brush my teeth and eat. Ten years later, at 37 years old, I am now able to operate a vehicle, but am no longer ambulatory. I am passionate about the benefits of exercise, so much so that I obtained my personal trainer's certificate. I swim 20 laps twice a week and work out 4 days a week in my home gym. I am currently a student at the University of Victoria working on my Bachelor of Social Work via distance education. My future plans are to obtain a Masters degree and become a disability advocate working with the MS demographic in some capacity. I am a peer support volunteer for the lower mainland chapter of the MS Society and the MS Support team leader - facilitator.
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| Ken Biron has had MS for 6 years and is familiar with the concept of MS Support online. He is a recent graduate of The Internet Business Development for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (IBDE) online course . He is our technical advisor and assists with the design of this site. He also moderates the cannabis page and forum so stop in and share a bud with him. Tobacco smoke is not tolerated in that forum; bring in your humor and a bowl! He resides in Prince George, (V2L-4B2) where he spends his free time building websites and “Walk-N-Rolling around Prince George” trying not to destroy the planet. He rides an electric mobility scooter named “Scoot” around the Prince George downtown and volunteers with the Prince George Council of Seniors, Prince George Independent Living Complex Society, Prince George Handy Circle Promotions Society. From his former life before disability he is certified to fix your computer with an A+ certification (1998) Compaq Canada Service certified (1998).
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Lori Balash - Diagnosed with MS in 2001, Diabetes in 2005. Since 2005 has been changing abilities. Graduated from Portage College in 2006 with Office Administration. Graduated IBDE in 2007, and now is in the middle if the ICS Web design course and the Business Abilities course. After that who knows...Live and Learn! Lori is web designer, forum administrator and our pal talk chat room co-admin.
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Sandra Wojciechowski was diagnosed in the fall of 2003. She had been experiencing symptoms of chronic fatigue, loss of balance, a number of infections especially ear and increasing pain in the body. Doctors were unable to diagnose until she ended up in the hospital paralyzed from head to toe on her left side. She was a full time hairstylist/salon owner until that time and lost her business of 20 years to the MS. She now has diabetes also. Sandra learned to reuse her left side with limitations. Sandra became involved with her local Integrated Learning Resource Centre (ILRC) in the spring of 2006. It is a government program that hires people with disabilities to help others get back in the work program or to start their own businesses. Sandra has since started her own jewellery line and took the IBDE Web Design program also with funding from the ILRC. She has set up her own website wojosjewels.com and has been nominated and voted on to the Board of Directors of the ILRC. She also coaches a 10 pin youth bowling program and is the community rep at her daughter’s former school. No way will MS get her down. Keep on dancin’ even if it’s in your head. Sandra is our mssupport.ca contest administrator, so watch for contests in the near future!
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