Underoos were a big thing when I was little. I was lucky and got the Wonder Woman pair. I was invincible when I wore them. The only things missing were the bullet-deflecting bracelets, the Lasso of Truth, and the invisible plane. I was so close to becoming a superhero when I was 6 years old.
In 2004 I thought my time to become a superhero had come! The Boston Red Sox beat the so-called “Evil Empire” New York Yankees to go to the World Series. Then the Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals to win their first title in 86 years. Surely this was a sign of great things to come! But then I started feeling… odd. My hands and legs were getting tingly, must be my Spidey-sense emerging. The double vision had to be the start of my heat vision, like Superman has! The heaviness I was feeling in my legs meant the Adamantium was taking hold, just like Wolverine.
I ran this theory past my doctor and he didn’t buy it. Instead of sending me to pick out a super-hero costume, he sent me for an MRI, a spinal tap, and to see a neurologist. Turned out my emerging superpowers were really symptoms related to Multiple Sclerosis. Sure my body changed, but not to my advantage. Turns out my immune system forgot how to work correctly and it started to attack the insulation around my nerve cells.  The emerging super powers? This wasn’t me getting ready to join the Justice League. This was the beginning of a different kind of battle.
This year marks the 8^th anniversary of my MS diagnosis. It hasn’t always been easy dealing with MS, but Wonder Woman never gives up, so I try not to either. This Saturday, May 11, I will be captaining my Bike MS team, Saint Kate’s Cycling Saints, to raise money for the MS Society.  To reach my fundraising goal of $5,000 before the end of May, I will give you a dozen of my world famous homemade chocolate chip cookies for every $30 you donate to the Minnesota MS Society in support of my team.  If you donate $60, I’ll send you 2-dozen cookies.  To sweeten the deal, if you donate $100 I will bake you a batch of whatever kind of cookies you want.  I am willing to send cookies anywhere in the United States!
 
To recap:
$30 = 12 yummy cookies
$60 = 24 delicious cookies
$90 = 36 amazing cookies
$100 = you choose your kind of cookies
 
In 2005, I didn’t gain the superpowers I had long dreamed off. But I know I’m considerably  more fortunate than many who are fighting the same battle that I am.  Please consider making a donation to the Minnesota MS Society in support of Saint Kate’s Cycling Saints. You can make a donation online at www.tinyurl.com/stkate2013.
Thank you!