11 years ago, Kara Friesen got a diagnosis that would change the trajectory of her life. At the time she was a young stay-at-home mom caring for her toddler.

Friesen recalls that day 11 years ago, ‘I woke up one morning and couldn't use my left leg and after a few doctors tried to figure out what was wrong, I was sent to Saint Boniface Hospital for an emergency MRI. Where they found lesions in my brain and diagnosed me with Multiple Sclerosis.’

‘It’s been a journey.’

Friesen says the symptoms came out of nowhere. ‘I had no other symptoms up until that point. I woke up and I thought ‘has my leg been asleep all night. Did I sleep funny?’ I tried to walk it off, and couldn't.’

Those first days after the diagnosis were dark and full of questions according to Friesen. ‘Lots and lots of crying, lots of confusion, lots of wondering like what's my life gonna look like now? Can I continue to have more children? Do I need to alter my life completely for a permanent wheelchair? Do I need to find a house that doesn't have stairs?’ All of those questions within the first few days. It was kind of like a panic.’

MS is an unpredictable disease and symptoms vary from patient to patient. Friesen does experience a lot of pain, usually in her left leg with bouts so bad she can’t even walk around her house. ‘I'm couch-bound a lot, which is where cross-stitch comes in handy.’

Friesen also deals with a lot of fatigue, migraines, and struggles with balance issues. Managing the pain is not consistent either. ‘You can take as many nerve pain meds as you want and it just it either dulls it a little bit or gives you a bit of like a distraction from something else.’

‘I've been trying to tell myself that my normal isn't necessarily anybody else's normal.’

When first diagnosed, Friesen said the leg pain and migraines were somewhat manageable and actually went away for a period of time and the pain was easier to manage. ‘Actually, I did pretty good, and just in the last couple of years, I've noticed a decline in my health. Like I can't get around on my own at a mall anymore. I need to use a wheelchair or at the very least that cane for balance.’

Being a mother is hard work on its own, add in living with MS and motherhood looks very different. Friesen’s two sons know no other reality with their mom, and she is proud of them. She describes them as very empathetic and caring. ‘They're very, very good. They've been very incredible and when I have bad days it looks a little different. In our house, we do a lot of movie nights or if I'm feeling well enough, we play board games.’

Another symptom of MS is heat intolerance and Friesen says it’s tough when she can’t join them outside to play in the summer months. Because of that intolerance, Friesen is a winter lover and the family finds ways to enjoy that season.

Friesen credits the love and support of her family and friends that have stepped in to help her over the years, especially her husband Rob. ‘He is the rock of our family. I have never once heard him complain. He always, always just steps up and does whatever needs to be done always. He's fantastic.’

Friesen is continuing to learn a lot through living with MS. ‘I'm learning that my normal will never be someone else’s normal. So, a normal day for me is still a sick day for someone who's healthy.’

‘As hard as it is and as proud as I am or want to be, I'm learning that it's OK to ask for help and that there are so many people willing to help. I just have to ask. Someone once said to me don't take away someone else's blessing. So, it's just as important to accept help as it is to ask for it.’

And Friesen is surrounded by many that want to help. People drop off meals, some are sending texts, ‘I'm very very thankful for those kinds of small things because those small things are big for me in my family.’

And a big thing that is going on for Friesen right now is coming from the thoughtfulness of a friend. ‘One of my dearest friends started a Go Fund Me page for me. Raising funds for a wheelchair or a mobility scooter to make getting around a little easier. And my husband and I both have just been overwhelmed and humbled by people’s generosity. And that's crazy to think about because I'll be able to use the funds raised to purchase a really great mobility aid, which will help my quality of life immensely so.’

When the bad days come, Friesen’s focus on getting through is her family. ‘I still have to be a mom and I still have to be a wife and whatever else. That's really the only option for me is to just keep pushing through. I spend a lot of time in bed or on the couch but I just have to really really be thankful for the good days.’