Good luck keeping her down — she's got plans.

My Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis may have come on in a vengeance. But, I didn't have time for that.

Hi y’all,

I’m starting this space because I refuse to give in, and I refuse to give up.

I don’t live with daily limitations—in fact, I live a full, active, and joyful life. I am here to tell you how I refused to accept my diagnosis as a life sentence—and how I rebuilt new neural pathways that opened the door to the life I have today.

Right now, I have 78 lesions in my brain. These lesions were the highways that carried messages from my brain to my legs, hands, eyes, throat, bladder, memory, and cognitive skills.

The 78 lesions are still there. But now, I have new highways. Building them wasn’t easy—and a few are still under construction—but I’m living a full, fabulous life. And you can too.

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Where It Began

In 2010, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis after years of sporadic symptoms. Then, one night, everything hit at once:

I fell several times on my face and head.
I lost all control of my bladder.
I lost the ability to speak or understand words.
I couldn’t stand or use my hands.

In just hours, my life changed completely.

Doctors told my husband, “This is as good as it’s going to get.” Because, according to them, myelin sheaths don’t regrow. The plan? Start medication immediately to slow progression.

They even implanted an internal heart monitor to check if the advanced MS had damaged my heart.

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Those First Months

For about three months, this was my reality. My daughters looked at me with fear and confusion. My husband, had to become both mother and father. I felt like a burden. My heart broke for them.

One day, the heaviness became too much. I prayed: God, either take me or show me a way out of this.

And then, this is the moment everything changed —
I felt something I still can’t fully explain. It was like a knowing deep in my soul. I felt God’s presence, and I heard His answer. He showed me the path forward.

It was the last thing anyone would expect.

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The Path I Ran Toward

That very moment, I told my husband: I’m going to yoga.

Sounds crazy, right?

The next day, I went. Then the day after that. And the day after that. For the first month, all I did was sit on my mat and be present. The second month, I stood. I began to understand words again. Eventually, I tried poses.

Three months later, I was in an advanced yoga class.

Today, I teach yoga two mornings a week—the greatest joy of my life.

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What I Learned

Here’s the thing: there was nothing wrong with my legs, hands, or bladder. The problem was my brain’s communication system. My nerve fibers weren’t sending the right signals. Yoga became my way to retrain my brain—to rebuild the electrical circuitry—and create new pathways.

My story is one of healing my brain, and of learning to listen to my mind, body, and soul. It’s about not accepting “this is as good as it gets,” and instead believing in the body’s ability to adapt and heal.

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What You’ll Find Here

On this Substack, I’ll share my journey, the lessons I’ve learned, yoga practices, and ways to support your own healing—physically, mentally, and spiritually.

If you’re here, maybe you’re looking for hope. Maybe you’re searching for a way forward. I want to help light that path for you.

Share the light.

Christi