Kevin is center, wearing green
At 20 years old, Seal Beach resident Kevin Gaffney began experiencing seizures. “I was still in college with my whole life ahead of me,” he remembers. “My diagnosis of multiple sclerosis brought shock and anger! I had a career planned and thought that may have been lost. I didn’t know how my friends and family would deal with my diagnosis, or even how I would.”
After years of denial, Kevin “decided to take things into my own hands.” Kevin participated in his first Walk MS event by himself and was “overcome with emotion on how many people were there for the event. I recall feeling a tear well up in my eye. It came out of somewhere and perhaps years of never/little talking about or really addressing my MS caught up with me.”
Though Kevin hasn’t often utilized the many programs and services provided by the chapter, he says “knowing they are there makes me feel very supported for any time in the future when I may need them. I know the staff is very supportive and have helped my friend Astra with her MS. And when I meet new people who don't know where to go, I steer them towards the MS Society.” Kevin also offers to talk to friends who have been affected by MS, whether through a family member or otherwise.
Kevin cites stress as the biggest factor in his MS attacks which have included five seizures and a weeklong bought with blurred vision in one eye. Before 2000, he “kept trying to minimize my stress, but with very limited success. I was unhappy with my job anyway, so I quit. I didn't really have a plan, except to regain balance in my life. I took a vacation and came back with a plan for my MS.” Kevin spoke with his doctor and, in the fall of 2000, he began treatment and went back in school to become a teacher. “Teaching has its own stress, but it is more manageable and enjoyable for me,” says Kevin. “Saying Goodbye to aerospace and Hello to elementary school teaching was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life! I’ve become a better person and even got married.”
Along with the career change, Kevin attributes his health to cycling. “I feel that the more I’ve gotten involved with biking, the more it has helped my MS.” “Casual mountain biking” led him to “needing to ride every week.” He says, “I get kicked out of the house when I don't ride due to crankiness.” Kevin borrowed (then bought) his first road bike for the Bike MS Tour in 2003 and has not missed an event since. In 2008, he was nominated as the Most Inspirational Rider, an honor given to Bike MS cyclists living with MS who have overcome the disease in one way or another.
“Having MS makes me more aware of my limitations. I can say 'no' when I want or need to as my body tells me, yet I still push myself so I don't let MS control me. I feel that teaching shows me what was, is and what will be… all in the same day. I have MS, but MS does not have me.”
In March 2009, Kevin completed a 44-mile, 8,000 feet climb, one-day mountain bike event called the Counting Coup. “My goal was to meet all the cutoff times and finish… that's it. As I crossed the finish line I held up a sign that said ‘MS didn't stop me from today's challenge and it should not stop you!’ To my surprise, the organizers of the event knew about my battle with MS and awarded me the Counting Coup Inspiration Award. I had my Team Crash jersey and told those who asked about it what the jersey meant. I'd point to the Society logo on the jersey, mention why I ride and explain that often we crash in life... what we do when we get up is what matters. I'm up, I'm ready...let's ride!”
Kevin’s Bike MS team, Team Crash, is named after Kevin because “I was always crashing when I first started mountain biking. Now, I crash less often, but raise more money for MS!”
Kevin’s ongoing symptoms tend to be mild for the most part, with his last seizure occurring in 2000. Other symptoms are fatigue at times, rare cognitive issues, and according to Kevin, “I talk way too fast.” Kevin says his most frustrating symptom is that he tends to slur words at times. “My wife often has to ask me to repeat myself.” In addition to Kevin, Kevin’s mother has also been diagnosed with MS.
“Even with MS, I’m a normal person who leads a normal life. I feel fortunate that I’m able to move around and live life with limited disruption. I know this may not be the case my entire life and is not for many others living with MS. As long as I can ride my bike I will ride in the MS ride.”
Though the cause of multiple sclerosis is not known, it is a disease of the central nervous system typically diagnosed in the prime-of-life years, ages 20-50. MS is the most common neurological disease leading to disability in young adults. To learn more about MS, Kevin, chapter programs and services, fundraising events, sponsorship/underwriting chapter activities, or to donate, email stories@mspacific.org, visit www.MSpacific.org or call 1-800-486-6762.