This Runner Isn’t Letting Her MS Stop Her
- 5 years ago
Melissa Ossanna was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 26.
MELISSA
A lot of paresthesia, numbness and tingling in arms and legs.
The disease left her constantly fatigued.
MELISSA
I was in my early 40s. I was just getting over being tired a lot. My neurologist always told me that if she could write a prescription for exercise for me, that she would.
In 2011, Ossana was inspired by marathon runners.
She saw them lining up near her Maine home.
MELISSA
So I thought to myself, wow, I really wish I could do something like this. This would be really cool but it’s too bad I can’t. And then I said, why can’t I? The next day I got a pair of old sneakers from my closet and I went out and tried to run down my road and back.
Within a year, Ossanna had run she ran her first marathon.
She believes running has helped combat her MS symptoms.
MELISSA
One could say it could possibly be coincidence but I’m not willing to stop running to see if I have MS symptoms again. I’m going to keep running and keep fighting and keep being active… I try not to think of myself as a person with MS on a regular basis. I try to think of myself as a runner who gets injuries.
Ossana says her MS causes sometimes causes breathing issues.
MELISSA
Sometimes it doesn’t, but often it does, and then I will slow down until I can get my breathing regular again.
Ossana won’t let that stop her, though.
She plans to attempt the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning.
She’ll take on four 100-mile races in a 10-week span. including Leadville.
MELISSA
It seemed like a natural step in my process of challenging myself and also it was a good gift to myself for turning 50. It was a, hey, I’m getting older but I can still get out there and kick some butt.
Ossanna will be running the races to support Vermont Adaptive.
Vermont Adaptive caters to people with physical disabilities.
The group provides them with outdoor opportunities.
MELISSA
These are people who used to be active and that’s still who they are. I think Vermont Adaptive really allows people to find that joy again that I get when I’m outside running in the woods… Activity is so important and it really helps our bodies to heal, it helps our minds to heal.
MELISSA
A lot of paresthesia, numbness and tingling in arms and legs.
The disease left her constantly fatigued.
MELISSA
I was in my early 40s. I was just getting over being tired a lot. My neurologist always told me that if she could write a prescription for exercise for me, that she would.
In 2011, Ossana was inspired by marathon runners.
She saw them lining up near her Maine home.
MELISSA
So I thought to myself, wow, I really wish I could do something like this. This would be really cool but it’s too bad I can’t. And then I said, why can’t I? The next day I got a pair of old sneakers from my closet and I went out and tried to run down my road and back.
Within a year, Ossanna had run she ran her first marathon.
She believes running has helped combat her MS symptoms.
MELISSA
One could say it could possibly be coincidence but I’m not willing to stop running to see if I have MS symptoms again. I’m going to keep running and keep fighting and keep being active… I try not to think of myself as a person with MS on a regular basis. I try to think of myself as a runner who gets injuries.
Ossana says her MS causes sometimes causes breathing issues.
MELISSA
Sometimes it doesn’t, but often it does, and then I will slow down until I can get my breathing regular again.
Ossana won’t let that stop her, though.
She plans to attempt the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning.
She’ll take on four 100-mile races in a 10-week span. including Leadville.
MELISSA
It seemed like a natural step in my process of challenging myself and also it was a good gift to myself for turning 50. It was a, hey, I’m getting older but I can still get out there and kick some butt.
Ossanna will be running the races to support Vermont Adaptive.
Vermont Adaptive caters to people with physical disabilities.
The group provides them with outdoor opportunities.
MELISSA
These are people who used to be active and that’s still who they are. I think Vermont Adaptive really allows people to find that joy again that I get when I’m outside running in the woods… Activity is so important and it really helps our bodies to heal, it helps our minds to heal.