鈥淢S sucks,鈥� says Giovahann White about his multiple sclerosis diagnosis. 鈥淚t's unexpected. It can be rough. But it's different for everyone.鈥�
White studies French translation at McGill University with a minor in international development. He was moonlighting as a security guard at a Montreal nightclub when he started having trouble getting down the stairs.
He described what happened next: 鈥淥ne of the managers stopped me and was like 鈥榃hat did you do to your leg?鈥� I was like, 鈥業 didn't trip, didn't fall, didn't hurt anything. I feel no pain. It's just that I cannot really walk.鈥� He's like 鈥楤ro, you have to go to the hospital as soon as possible. It looks like you have a stroke.鈥欌��
After talking to his family doctor, White was referred to Dr. Paul Giacomini at The Neuro鈥檚 MS Clinic. Dr. Giacomini officially diagnosed White with MS, and helped him plan how to manage his condition. They meet regularly to monitor White鈥檚 progression and symptoms.
At first White didn鈥檛 believe he had MS. Once he came to accept his diagnosis, he had to convince his family, who didn鈥檛 believe it either.
鈥淭hey weren't having it,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here was no history of neurological disorders in our family. There was a bit of a backlash against it.鈥�
White has had to take a less physically demanding job, which was hard for him because he likes being active. Before the diagnosis, White played several sports including rugby and basketball. One walk up the hill from McGill to The Neuro was an emotional one for him, because he passed the field where he used to play rugby.
鈥淢y girlfriend, who was coming with me, was walking at her regular speed but then I was kind of like taking it all in, thinking that if had I known this two or three years ago I would have enjoyed the time that I had being able bodied that much more.鈥�
Now White is fighting back against MS by getting help from specialists to overcome his symptoms. He works with a kinesiologist to build muscles, to stabilise his body and he does eye exercises to maintain his range of view.
鈥淚t is really good,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 feel as though The Neuro has a really great support system and I've been lucky enough to have my own support system as well.鈥�
