This is my
Real
Story
I'm Paige. I'm 55+. I have MS, and I have never felt more alive. Here's how I got here, and why I'm sharing everything I've learned.
Several lives
in just 21 years.
At 21, I was diagnosed with Epstein Barr. Life had been pretty stressful up to this point. I had already lived what I would call several lives in just 21 short years. But I will tell you more detail about that as we get to know each other.
At 23 came the diagnosis that would quietly shape everything: MS. I got married at 25 and had two wonderful kids before 30. Successful corporate career. Executive. Team mom. Vacation planner. Scheduler of absolutely everything.
MS was just another item on my list — with a very low priority. Mother, wife, executive, friend, neighbor, carpooler, team mom — you get the picture.
The shots, the side effects,
and the search.
I didn't have severe MS symptoms at first — numb and tingling feet, some vision issues, clumsiness. Life went on. I had my first exacerbation at 28, which landed me in the hospital on IVs of steroids. Woke up one day while on vacation in Arizona with little feeling in my legs or abdomen.
After recovery and lots of physical therapy to regain strength to walk and run again, my neurologist decided I had to go on medication. A once-a-week intravenous shot in the muscle of my leg, hip, or arm. My husband tried to learn from the nurses but it was more like a wind-up-and-pitch motion that freaked me out. So I did it myself, or my sweet neighbor would try.
The actual shot was only a small issue — the side effects at the time were horrible. High fever and flu-like symptoms for 2–3 days after every injection. I would do the shot on Friday evening so I could feel horrible all weekend and go back to work on Monday. Not much fun for me or my family.
This continued for years until I could not do it any longer. Something had to be better. There had to be something besides the meds and feeling this way.
Time for Change
Much to my neurologist's displeasure, I decided to stop the shots. Not the wisest decision by textbook standards — but remember my "don't-try-to-stop-me" attitude?
"I felt great. And my body did too. Something was working — I just didn't have the full framework yet."
Oh! The TED Talk
that changed everything.
Skip forward about 10 years. A good friend of mine recommended I watch a TED Talk by Dr. Terry Wahls — a doctor and professor of medicine who had been diagnosed with MS which progressed rapidly until she had to use a wheelchair.
She too wanted to find something better, to stop the disease from progressing, and used her medical knowledge to dive into loads and loads of research. She discovered functional medicine and its use of scientific studies to find the root causes of chronic illnesses.
Today, I use many of her methods and recipes to enhance my own wellbeing, and I sincerely thank her for her work, knowledge, and willingness to share. I encourage you to look her up for more information.
MS is not my identity.
This is my story.
As far as my journey goes, I continue my research and continue to make changes to better my health and my life overall. My MS MRI scans show a 75% reduction of the original lesions from my worst flare-up. I still have minor symptoms like tingling and numbness, but I have not had another exacerbation in over 20 years.
You see, MS is not my life story or my identity. The fact that I am a very healthy, vital, loving, and spirited individual — that is my story.
I can probably count on fewer than 10 fingers the number of people I have told this story to. But now I am telling you. My goal is to share — and hopefully help others — with the knowledge that I have studied and practice daily to be my healthiest self in mind, body, and spirit.
Epstein Barr Diagnosis
Life had been stressful. Had already lived several lives in 21 short years. First health challenge — far from the last.
MS Diagnosis
Pretty scary. But just another item on the list — with a very low priority. Strong middle-child-of-five headset.
Married & Building a Family
Two wonderful kiddos before 30. Corporate executive, mother, wife — doing it all.
First Exacerbation
Woke up in Arizona with little feeling in my legs. Hospital, steroids, physical therapy — then back to life.
Stopped the Shots, Started Moving
Pilates, running, tennis, whole foods, rest. The results were undeniable — and changed everything that followed.
Discovered the Wahls Protocol
Dr. Terry Wahls' TED Talk opened the door to functional medicine. 75% lesion reduction followed over the next years.
58 & Thriving in Nosara, Costa Rica
Living proof that 55+ can be the best chapter yet. Pura Vida — every single day.
A few things
about me.
All the Blue Zones
Okinawa, Sardinia, Nicoya, Ikaria, Loma Linda — the regions of the world where people consistently live past 100. I am obsessed with what they have in common.
Austin, Texas
Home base between Nosara adventures. Austin's energy, community, and outdoor lifestyle make it the perfect complement to my Costa Rica jungle life.
OC Sneakers
Comfortable, stylish, and built for the kind of daily movement that keeps you feeling good at any age. These are the shoes I wear every single day.