Meet Jackie
When I was eight years old, my mother would take me to visit an elderly woman who lived at the end of our street. This woman was very disabled from having polio. My mother bathed her and I would help to clean her house. It seemed to take forever but when we left, her smile stayed with me for a long time. It was a really important lesson because I realized that taking care of the little things can make a huge difference in a person’s life.
Working on our multiple sclerosis helpline, MS LifeLines™, I take about 50 or 60 calls a day. Sometimes patients want to know about the medication we provide, how to cope with side effects, or what to do if they miss an injection. Other times, they just want someone to confide in. I’m a nurse so I have the necessary medical knowledge. But you also need compassion.
It feels like a big responsibility but I share it with everyone else here. Of course, we all have days when we don’t necessarily feel like getting out of bed early each morning, but there’s never a day when I don’t want to come to work. Each day when I leave work I know I have made a difference in someone’s life.
