MS Moments

04/01/2026

For those of you that completed your order for your MS Moments MS Awareness shirts, they are ready! An email was sent to those individuals who purchased with the below details, if you purchased one but have not received an email please check your junk email for an email from katieblaha@msmomentsia.onmicrosoft.com - if you don't have an email there please email Katie directly!

Pick Up from Salon 86 tomorrow 4/1/26 from 4-6 PM. There will be a table at the studio with your t-shirt waiting for you! (If you cannot make that time work, please let us know and we can arrange something else!)

Thank you again for your support!

03/31/2026

This Slaps!

Actual conversation today:

Facebook team: It's exciting we are really close to 20,000 followers on our FB page.
Union Prez: Well let's get it up to 20k then

FB Guy: We're trying bossman, it's just that some of our posts slap and others don't slap as much.

Union Prez: What in the world does that mean?

FB Team: Slap is a term our generation uses sir for when something has Rizz

Union Prez: Say what?!?

FB Team: You know, like when you're mewing and look in the mirror and think I'm cookin' while mogging, ain't no skibidi in my aura. Daddy ain't sus.

Union prez: ...

FB Team:...

Union prez: what about a simple tee giveaway?

FB Team: That's a great idea dawg! We gonna give away a shirt no cap.

Union prez: I'm getting old. Just tell the people to like our page, like this post, share it, and we'll pick a winner. Must be done by Friday at midnight. We'll send them a tee of their choice size, some stickers, and a nice RTIC water bottle.

FB Team: You got it!

03/31/2026

🎉 Congratulations, Michelle Jordan! 🎉

We’re excited to honor Michelle Jordan, owner of Wild Hogs Saloon & Eatery as the MS Moments 2025 Do It Yourself Award Winner! 🏆

This award celebrates individuals who roll up their sleeves and turn passion into action—and Michelle does exactly that. Through her creativity, leadership, and unwavering commitment, she has gone above and beyond to support MS Moments and Iowa families living with MS.

Michelle’s hands‑on approach and generous spirit perfectly capture what the Do It Yourself Award represents: community-driven impact, grassroots support, and a willingness to make a difference however—and whenever—needed.

👉 Join us in congratulating Michelle!

Leave a message of thanks or share how her efforts and Wild Hogs Saloon have helped support the MS community. 💛

03/25/2026

🧡 Congratulations, Wendi Smith, Owner of Body Mechanix by Wendi, LLC! 🧡

We are deeply honored to recognize Wendi Smith as the recipient of the first-ever Mikki Smith Random Acts of Kindness Award at the MS Moments Gala. 🌟

This award—named in memory of Wendi’s beloved sister, Mikki Smith—is a powerful tribute to the love, compassion, and kindness Wendi carries forward every day. Her generosity and unwavering dedication to uplifting Iowa families living with MS embody the very spirit of this award.

Wendi, your commitment to keeping Mikki’s legacy alive through simple acts of kindness continues to inspire all of us. Your heart, your strength, and your passion for helping others truly represent what MS Moments is all about.

👉 Join us in celebrating Wendi!
Drop a message of congratulations or share a story of how her kindness has touched your life.

03/25/2026

🎉 Congratulations, Hadley Kos! 🎉

We are proud to honor Hadley Kos as the MS Moments 2025 Steve Campbell Passion Award Winner! 🏆

This award recognizes individuals whose dedication, heart, and unwavering passion uplift Iowa families living with MS—and Hadley embodies that spirit in every way. Her commitment to strengthening our community, supporting local nonprofits, and championing families facing the challenges of multiple sclerosis continues to make a lasting impact across Iowa.

Hadley, thank you for leading with compassion, authenticity, and purpose. Your work reflects the very mission of MS Moments: ensuring Iowa families with MS never face their journey alone.

👉 Join us in celebrating Hadley! Drop a note of congratulations or share a moment where her passion has inspired you.

03/25/2026

✨ Join Us for a Free MS Educational Event! ✨
If you or someone you care about is living with Relapsing MS (RMS) or Primary Progressive MS (PPMS), you’re invited to a special in‑person program designed to educate, empower, and connect.

🧡 What to Expect:
• Learn about treatment options for RMS and PPMS from an MS expert
• Hear why OCREVUS® or OCREVUS ZUNOVO™ may be options to consider
• Listen to an inspiring story from someone living with MS
• Connect with others in the MS community

🗓 Tuesday, May 12, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM CT (Check‑in begins 30 minutes prior)
📍 District 36 Wine Bar & Grille
1375 SW Vintage Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023

🎤 Presented by:
• Bruce L. Hughes, MD, Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center
• Leann, Person Living with Relapsing MS / Primary Progressive MS

👉 Space is limited—advance registration is strongly encouraged!

Register at: www.ocrevus.com/events
Or call: 1‑844‑OCREVUS (1‑844‑627‑3887)

This is a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and connect with others who understand MS. Hope to see you there! 🧡

03/24/2026

🎉 Congratulations, Fareway Stores! 🎉

We’re thrilled to celebrate Fareway Stores as the MS Moments 2025 Champion Award Winner! 🏆

Fareway’s commitment to strengthening communities across Iowa truly stands out. Through their generous support of Iowa nonprofits, they’re helping provide critical resources and moments of joy to Iowa families living with MS—ensuring they don’t have to face this journey alone.

At MS Moments, our mission is to support Iowa families impacted by multiple sclerosis with practical help, community, and hope. Partners like Fareway make that mission possible. 🧡🧡

👉 Join us in celebrating this impact!

Drop a “👏” in the comments, share your own Fareway Moments, or leave a note of thanks for the Fareway team and their dedication to Iowa families with MS.

03/24/2026

It’s MS Awareness Month. This is me being vulnerable. This is MY MS.

💥 Common symptoms from a C7–T1 MS lesion

Based on neurology textbooks and what neurologists describe in MS:
1. Gait changes & difficulty walking
When this lesion interrupts the corticospinal (motor) tract, you can see:
Legs feeling heavy
Spasticity
Stiff walking
Fatigue after short distances
Needing a rollator
Feeling unsteady when stepping over uneven ground
👉 This matches your summer decline and current reliance on the rollator.

2. Bladder problems

The nerves controlling bladder urgency and emptying run right through this region.
Typical symptoms:
Urgency
Leakage
Not fully emptying the bladder
Recurrent UTIs
Burning sensations

👉 This aligns with what you’ve been telling your doctors (and the recent Enterococcus UTI).

3. Burning, tingling, buzzing, or electrical sensations
The dorsal columns (sensory tracts) get disrupted.
This causes:
The burning in your legs
Tingling in feet or hands
Vibrations inside the body
Sensory loss or weird sensations
👉 Exactly what you’ve described all year.

4. Core instability & posture issues
Because C7–T1 helps control upper back muscles, you may get:
Feeling “weak in the core”
Easier fatigue sitting upright
Difficulty holding posture
Feeling unstable when you turn or pivot
This can make walking feel even harder.

5. Arm and hand issues (sometimes subtle)
You might notice:
Grip weakness
Dropping objects
Aching in the arms
Trouble opening jars
Fine motor fatigue
Even mild symptoms here can worsen balance because your arms help steady you.

6. Temperature sensitivity & fatigue
This lesion slows conduction speed in already-damaged pathways.�Heat or illness can temporarily worsen everything (Uhthoff’s phenomenon), especially:
Walking
Bladder control
Strength
👉 This fits what happened during your rough days at Mercy Rehab.

❤️ How this fits YOU
Your MRI notes mild cervical cord atrophy + the persistent lesion at C7–T1.�That combination typically leads to a pattern of:
Slow functional decline
Fatigue
Gait changes
Bladder involvement
Neuropathic burning
…and is exactly what neurologists call smoldering secondary progressive MS

Share YOUR MS in the comments. Or don’t. It’s your MS and YOUR story.

03/17/2026

🧡 LAST CALL for MS Awareness Month T‑Shirts! 🧡

Tomorrow is the final day to get your order in — don’t miss your chance to wear your support and help us spread awareness all year long.

Need it shipped? No problem!
📦 We can ship your order for just $7 more.

Let’s fill our community with orange and show families living with MS that we’re standing with them.

👉 Order by end of day tomorrow!
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Y8J1K3JjckCPKHVQ2cIxM1n2JhikdDFLv3prKnPJFilUNDhDS1daRUtZSFJFVUwwWk5GSE8xNTNKWi4u

03/17/2026

🚴‍♂️🧡 Pedal for a Moment is calling your name! 🧡🚴‍♀️

If you’ve been thinking about joining the ride, now’s the moment — register by the end of March and lock in the discounted $30 rate!

Every mile you pedal helps MS Moments support families living with MS through real, meaningful moments of relief and joy.

✨ Save your spot on September 19, 2026. Save some cash. Make an impact.
Sign up here: https://charity.pledgeit.org/pedal2026

Saturday, September 19, 2026 FUNDRAISING FOR THIS EVENT WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 Welcome to MS Moments’ 6th Annual Bike Ride — Pedal for a Moment! We’re excited to once again bring together fun, friendship, and feel-good exercise for a cause that truly matters. Your day of s...

03/10/2026

🧡 MS Moments MS Awareness Month T‑Shirts Are Here!

March is all about showing up, standing together, and shining bright in orange. When you purchase a shirt, you’re not just spreading awareness — you’re directly supporting families living with MS through the work of MS Moments.

Ready to order yours and make an impact?

Use the link below to grab your shirts today: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Y8J1K3JjckCPKHVQ2cIxM1n2JhikdDFLv3prKnPJFilUNDhDS1daRUtZSFJFVUwwWk5GSE8xNTNKWi4u

Price: $25

Orders due by: 3/17

Pick up location will be Salon 86 sometime the week of the 23rd - official date announced soon.

Let’s fill March with hope, color, and community. 🧡