The Other Side of MS

S3_E21: Ursula - The Marathon Before MS, The Ride After

Running Into MS with Ursula Forrester Ursula has always been a runner - marathons, half-marathons, and miles that measured more than distance. But in October 2014, after years of unexplained symptoms, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Suddenly, endurance meant something entirely different. She is a wife, a mother of two, and a professional in advertising who still chooses to see the glass half full. But behind that optimism lies the daily reality of MS modifying, compensating, and sometimes surrendering to the fatigue that doesn't show up on finish line photos. Ursula and her family created the Mill Chill, a local race that has raised more than $150,000 for the MS Society, and in 2023 they added Bike MS to their journey, forming Team Mighty Strong. In this episode, Ursula reflects on running marathons, building a community through fundraising, and what it really means to balance resilience with honesty. Her story is not just about crossing finish lines, but about redefining what strength looks like when MS becomes part of the course. This isn't just a runner's story. It's about family, identity, and the power of creating a movement bigger than yourself. You too can make a difference, please donate to Ursula's MS Fundraiser: https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participant/620535 [https://events.nationalmssociety.org/participant/620535?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExRVREUVRXdmc4bEtZZWhxcQEex8QaTw_1pfvlbUdAjzWQVBgs58CTT1pH1cRKN-3dLklLjW7Sai9fVIb4OkI_aem_99PNxIaY8PWMHRWVyU_Dbg]

S3_E20: Steve - Both Sides of the Bed: A Trauma Nurse Living with MS

Steve: From Trauma Nurse to MS Warrior Steve was 30 years old, working as a travel nurse in Idaho, when numbness crept up his leg and refused to go away. A ski accident had rattled his body, but what scans revealed was something else entirely: lesions on his brain and spine. In 2002, Steve entered a world he had once only witnessed from the other side of the hospital bed, the world of multiple sclerosis. As a trauma nurse, Steve knew the language of medicine. But living it was different. He walked away from graduate school, leaned on his family in Colorado, and began reshaping his life around the uncertainty of MS. Over the years, he has worked across ERs, ICUs, and trauma centers, all while navigating his own invisible symptoms and treatments. He's also become a force in the MS community, leading a Bike MS team that has raised over $1 Million for research and support. In this episode, Steve reflects on what it means to live on both sides of the diagnosis, as the nurse who explains and the patient who endures. He shares the fear, the gratitude, and the hard choices MS demands, as well as the quiet resilience of a man who calls himself "one of the lucky ones." This isn't just a story about MS. It's a story about medicine, identity, and the power of showing up for a community when you don't have to, but choose to anyway.

S3_E19: Brad Romp - Stronger Than He'll Ever Let You See

What Strength Really Looks Like Brad was diagnosed with MS at 45. Now 64, he's a speaker, a cyclist, and a face of strength for others living with the disease. But behind the workouts, the travel, and the public optimism is a more complex truth—one that doesn't always fit into a social media caption or a feel-good campaign. In this episode, Brad sits down for a different kind of conversation. One that doesn't ask him to inspire, perform, or push through. Instead, we talk about the days he can't move. The pressure to keep showing up. The identity that forms around always being the strong one—and what happens when that strength runs out. We talk about guilt, body betrayal, and the silent fear of losing momentum. And we ask the questions that rarely get asked: Who sees you when the cape comes off? Are you helping others because it heals you—or because you don't know how to stop? This isn't about overcoming. It's about truth. And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is admit how much it hurts. Brad's Website: https://romptocurems.net/

S3_E18: Dan -  I do what I can when I can while I can

School Dan - I do What I Can, When I Can, While I Can Dan has been a teacher for over 20 years, a school spirit leader, a cyclist, and a quiet force in his Florida community. His energy is infectious. His optimism is constant. But behind the vibrant classroom persona is a man living with relentless, invisible pain—and the pressure to never let it show. In this episode, Dan opens up about how MS has shaped every part of his identity, from the walking stick he once felt ashamed of to the pride that makes asking for help harder than it should be. He talks about the dual realities of living with a disease that makes him stronger while slowly wearing him down. And he shares the emotional cost of performing "School Dan" when "Real Dan" is quietly falling apart. This is a story about vulnerability, not victory. About a man who shows up every day with humor, grit, and quiet dignity—even when it hurts. And a reminder that being strong doesn't mean pretending you're fine. Sometimes it just means telling the truth.

S3_E17: Teresa, Jax Bourbon Social: The Power Behind the Pour and MS

Teresa, Jax Bourbon Social: The Power Behind the Pour and MS Teresa Eichner is more than the co-founder of Jax Bourbon Social—she's the relentless force behind one of Jacksonville's most impactful fundraising events for the National MS Society. After a sudden MS diagnosis in 2016, Teresa's world shifted. But instead of retreating, she channeled her decades of experience in PR and politics into advocacy, community-building, and bold visibility. In this raw, deeply honest conversation, Teresa opens up about the private cost of public recognition, the invisible weight of fatigue, and what it really means to be the "well-spoken face" of MS. We talk about her diagnosis story—one of the fastest we've heard on this show—and how it unexpectedly brought her full circle to the MS Society. She also shares what it's like to carry her symptoms quietly through a packed, sold-out fundraiser… all while smiling, organizing, and holding a DeWalt fan like it's her fourth child. We also ask a harder question: do glamorized events risk minimizing the brutal reality of MS? Teresa doesn't flinch. And neither do we. Whether you're here for bourbon, boldness, or the bare truth—this one stays with you. 🎟️ Learn more or support the mission: https://www.jaxbourbonsocial.com/event-details [https://www.jaxbourbonsocial.com/event-details]