The resilience of the human body body is fascinating. I think it is imperative to reflect on the complexity of the detailed inner workings that keep me alive. It is grounding.
Having said that, what is arguably more remarkable than the human body itself, is the human spirit when the human body turns on itself.
My mother has endured relapse and remitting Multiple Sclerosis my entire life. Multiple Sclerosis is an auto-immune neurodegenerative disease which breaks down the myelin shielding the neurons of the central nervous system. In short, the immune system that is set up to protect one malfunctions and instead breaks down the function of one’s nerves. I have watched my mother’s own body break her down and build her back up. It is a painful cycle. At a young age this was difficult to watch and confusing for me, but my mother’s spirit resonated with hope. She would remind our family, even when she could not stand, that the progression of the disease is relatively slow and she hopes that research progress is faster. As I have gotten older, I have gotten better at dealing with the more difficult times and have honestly used science as a coping mechanism. It is so frustrating to see a disease break a loved one done, but it makes me feel better to understand the bio-mechanisms behind it.
As I have matured and gotten more in depth into my studies, this coping mechanism has been transformed into a passion. I have further molded things that used to sadden me, to now motivate me. I have worked in many different research labs since my junior year of high school to the present, 3 of which have been focused on Multiple Sclerosis. I am currently working on a research project that focuses on the role of sphingolipid enzymes in the cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients. This research paves the way for a faster diagnostic test for potential MS patients. Overall, seeing the triumphs and tragedies my mother has gone through has made me delve deeper into the science world. MS is a disease without a clear cause and no cure. The world needs people who are willing to dedicate their lives to uncovering the dynamics of these auto-immune diseases. I am motivated.
