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Karen Henry
Brandon, FL
When Karen Henry was first diagnosed with MS just before Christmas in 1993, she feared the worst. Would she be wheelchair bound? How would family and friends react? Could she continue to work? Henry didn’t let doubts plague her for long. She quickly committed to aggressive medical therapy as well as volunteer work and hobbies that she found enjoyable and gratifying.
An active person before her diagnosis, Henry was even more motivated to stay fit once she knew she had MS. She discovered that doing range of motion and stretching exercises in the water helped to lessen muscle spasms and improve her gait, balance and fatigue. Aquatic exercise is often recommended for people with MS because the buoyancy of the water helps a person with weakened limbs maintain balance for exercises with less effort. In water, there is also less over-heating, which often worsens MS symptoms.
Unfortunately, there were no aquatics classes offered in her community. Henry was not discouraged – instead she took action. After reading about the Betaseron® Champions of Courage program in an MS magazine, she collaborated with the Brandon Family YMCA on a grant proposal to start a program in Brandon. She was notified in April 2004 that her proposal was chosen for funding. The grant will cover costs for twice-weekly classes at the Brandon Family YMCA for one year for at least 75 people. After that, the Y has pledged to continue the program with support from community organizations.
Henry is excited about introducing the program to her MS community. “I am thrilled that we will have aquatic exercise classes,” says Henry. “What I’m looking forward to most is the laughter and comradery in the pool.”
Henry volunteers as a self-help group leader and peer counselor for the National MS Society. She spends 10 hours a week helping newly diagnosed patients with everything from filing for disability income to locating adaptive equipment. She also does public speaking to school students, retirement groups and MS groups. She has received numerous awards for her service, including the “Mayor’s Alliance Outstanding Community Service Award for Persons with Disabilities” and the “Volunteer of the Year Award,” given by the National MS Society. “People who don’t have MS find my story intriguing and brave,” says Henry. “I just view it as a way of educating others that ‘disabled doesn’t mean unabled.’”
When Henry is not busy with volunteer activities, she enjoys sewing quilts for family and friends. Sewing is an outlet for her creativity and a way for her to relax and unwind. “Sewing is my therapy,” says Henry. “I think I’d go crazy without it!”
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