BUNNY, RED & ME

BUNNY, RED & ME
'Moving Through MS with Heart and Humor'
Personal Story by Michele Schloner

​As someone living with MS, every year I like to add on to my story and share it in hopes it will help those either living with or recently diagnosed with MS.

As a child and into my teenage years I was very active. I went swimming, bowling, horseback riding & ice skating. I went to Israel for a year and worked and studied Hebrew. 

After I returned from Israel, I went to work for my father at his department store in Windsor, Ontario in the stock department. During that time, I was diagnosed with MS and had to take some time off but when I recovered, I went back to work until the department store closed it’s doors. I have amazing memories for those years. 

Soon after, I began working for my sister at her law firm doing everything from administrative work to filing in courts & delivering subpoenas and motions. I loved how this role gave me the opportunity to be out and about, and not behind a desk all day. I was constantly in motion and the walking felt great for me. 

Here’s my MS story… 
My multiple sclerosis was diagnosed in July of 1977. I was 27 at the time and there were no meds. I lost the use of the whole right side of my body and feared MS was a death sentence.  

I prayed a lot and my amazing, wonderful father bought me exercise balls to stimulate my arms  and legs. He would help me exercise daily, and I promised myself that if I recovered, I would start swimming every day and not let this hideous disease defeat me.

Thank goodness.  After 3 months I recovered and started swimming every day. I had little flare ups in between but my MS was pretty much in check. 

Then, in 2014 I had a flare up in which I lost feeling in my stomach, hands and feet. I began exploring medication and chose one after consulting my doctor and researching all of the options to treat MS. Unfortunately, nothing worked. The next year I had another bad flair up and lost the use of my right leg from the hip down. I was hospitalized for two weeks and put on another MS med. Unfortunately, I had a negative reaction. But I didn’t give up and I’m proud to say I’m on copaxin, a terrific medication which has been a game changer for the last nine years. MRI’s show no new lesions in the spine or brain.

Another huge part of my MS mitigation is focused on pushing physical activity. In 2015, I joined Yoga Moves MS. I had a hard time doing certain poses, moving and doing breath work. Yoga breathing was extremely difficult. Fast forward to 2025, I have come so far, including learning the yoga breath which helps me tremendously when I am stressed and in pain. I can now do poses and stretch, which I had such a hard time with initially. I have met so many wonderful friends and we have such a wonderful time together inside and outside of class. We dance to 60s, 70s and 80s music before we start our yoga, and it's a constant reminder of what's possible with perseverance.

I've even given names to my walker and cane. Bunny, my cane goes everywhere with me. I even dance with her and she's my companion to MS Yoga. I do so many exercises with her in different poses. Everyone at MS Yoga knows Bunny, and anyone who meets Bunny loves her. My cool walker named Red has the most comfortable seat, and they are two of my best companions. 

Whether you have had MS for a long time or have just been diagnosed, I want to let you know that MS Yoga was the best decision I have ever made. We have teachers, some of whom have MS, who instruct us and help us with our moves.   

I also walk at Costco a few days a week which comes with the perks because I get to taste all of the great samples. When it is warm out, I will resume swimming and ride my stationary bike which I bought after getting out of the hospital in 2015.

My advice for anyone living with MS is never give up. Be as active as you can be while knowing your limitations. I believe having a great outlook, exercising, and refusing to give up has served me all these years. I have had MS for nearly four decades and here I am going strong and so proud of my great accomplishments. I love being me. MS is a part of who I am, and I intend to be on that Smucker’s jar on the Today Show at 100. Join me in my journey. ∎

Learn more about Yoga Moves MS:
yogamovesanybody.org