Supermom Continued from page 10

went to the doctor. Her general practitioner urged her to head straight to the emergency room to get an MRI because she was failing basic balance tests. The MRI showed multiple lesions on the brain and spine, a major indication of Multiple Sclerosis. After visiting with a neurologist, Jennifer received the official diagnosis of MS in March 2021.

Her symptoms quickly progressed to temporary paralysis (also known as freezing of gait) and blurry vision. “It was so hard because I no longer felt in control of my body,” Jennifer said. “I couldn’t play with my kids like I wanted to. We used to go on family hikes and other adventures, and that all came to a halt.”

Recently Jennifer experienced a yearning to be productive again and use her creative talents to contribute to her family finances and the marketplace, while being back home with her kids. She started a crafting business – creating decorative door signs and wedding/baby shower décor. Tapping into her contacts from her journalism days, Jennifer even landed Lindsay Lohan as a recent client.

Jennifer wants people to know that raising a child with Autism, even if you’re managing a chronic disease of your own, can be done. It just takes time and a lot of research. “I’ve become obsessed with learning everything I can about Autism and MS,” Jennifer said. “There’s a long wait list for things like private orthopedic therapy, speech therapy, and other services that my son needs, which can be frustrating.”

Thankfully, Jennifer’s son has a high-functioning variety of Autism, which has been managed through local resources and a strong community of support. MS Lifeline and several Facebook groups have been invaluable resources for Jennifer and her family.

If there’s one thing Jennifer wants to educate people about when it comes to MS is that the disease is not a one-size-fits-all. It can look very different from person to person. “Not everyone with MS ends up in a wheelchair for life, but that doesn’t mean we’re not suffering or that we don’t have a disability,” she said. “In fact, it’s called ‘the invisible disease’ for good reason.”

Jennifer wished she had not waited so long to seek help for her symptoms. “It’s so important to listen to your body and pay attention to symptoms that aren’t quite right,” she added. “I also didn’t practice adequate self-care. I pushed my body too hard too often.”

Jennifer also stressed that it’s very important to find a doctor who listens to your concerns. She went through three different doctors before finding the one that was right for her.

For now, Jennifer has slowed down and is taking life one day at a time, enjoying her children and her crafting business. She has also become an advocate for MS and Autism and even did a walk for MS recently.

More information at https://www.facebook.com/ SimplySouthernCraftsCompany?mibextid=LQQJ4d.

Brenau University

Continued from page 21 degree, especially if a student wants to hone in on a particular set of skills. While these certificates are not yet available for undergraduate programs, Dr. Washington-Hubbard is optimistic that undergraduate students will soon be able to utilize some of these more concentrated courses to pursue micro-credentials.

Brenau also is partnering with the City of Roswell by facilitating workshops and offering city employees the chance to enroll in Brenau’s many accredited programs.

“It’s a joy to see so many adults pursue credentials through our online programs, which will help them remain competitive in the workforce,” said Dr. Washington-Hubbard. “We hope to continue to employ creative and innovative approaches to help students of all ages learn and advance their careers.”

More information at www.brenau.edu