That is my biggest fear is for one of my sons to have MS.. I'm fine with myself having it but not my sons. I would take all the painful spasms in the world as long as they don't have to endure this. I remember from the MS Expo a doctor saying your immediate family has 10 times the risk than the regular public which is about 3%. I felt better knowing my sons only have a 3% risk of getting MS. Grr.. MS has me grouchy today.

Thanks, LeeAnn. He's sure a cute kid. Hope he stays well.

It's SO not fair......I agree with Snoopy. It's time for this disease to be obliterated.

My first question after the doctor said "It's Multiple Sclerosis" was "will my boys get it?" He said nobody could say but their chances are definitely greater than if I didn't have it. Not the answer I was needing to hear.

Just like Mom23, I would take anything - and I do mean anything - to prevent my boys from ever having to deal with this disease.

I'm glad that the Osmond's are going public with this. Maybe this will heighten the awareness of MS and get us closer to a cure.

Yep I have just about had it with this disease myself

My youngest son Michael has alot of my symptoms. We are at a watch and see for right now but in my heart of hearts I think he has it.

Everytime I think about it I get sick to my stomach. I sure hope I'm wrong.


I can feel myself getting started on this It really stinks.

Oh, that poor boy and his family. I really do feel for them.

While MS is not considered a hereditary disease, I personally, believe that it is a genetic disease, possible at the genome level. I feel that something in our genes was altered and therefore, we can pass that mutation down. I think that because of this particular gene/genome and some type of "environmental" trigger whether during our development in the uterus (possibly some virus, medication, or other exposure our moms had) or after birth while growing up or even as grown ups we ended up with MS. This was probably the case with the Osmonds.

Bless my brother's heart for having to listen to me but, as you know he spent all but the last 3 years of his working life in neurological research MS, migraines, Alzheimer's, and epilepsy to name a few. Oddly, I was diagnosed a couple of years ago. Over the years we have discussed different diseases and more recently MS. I talked to him about my own belief and he agreed. I am sure that there have been some studies on it.

Do I worry about passing it on to DDs, yes without a doubt. However, as I tell DDs, they are more likely to get my essential tremors than MS. Family history wise, well . . .well . . . well, dang nobody has anything hereditary other than my niece. She has sickle cell. But, I think you get my point.

I'm a little worried that my older sister will get it, and that her daughters could end up with it some day.

I may not get along with my sister, but I wouldnt wish this onto her for the world.

I've noticed a few neurological things in my family. My grandma had Alzheimers. My nieces have Asbergers (autism), and my dad has mentioned on occasion that he's got a numb spot or two. I'm pretty sure that I know what side of the family any of the weird neurological stuff comes from. (my dad's side)

I've got a distant cousin (dad's cousin's daughter) who has MS. So far it's just me and her with the MS. (she's probably worse than me) So, I'm pretty sure we've got whatever genetic thing that you "need" to get MS floating in our gene pool. Just takes the right circumstances to trigger it.

I think MS has some sort of viral component to it. I noticed a few things before I had mononucleosis, but I really do think that the mononucleosis I had in 1995/1996 is what turned the MS on in me. I'll have to talk to my cousin someday (I've never met her) and see what she thinks.

My cousin's MS appeared the same week her brother was made a quadrapelegic. He'd been swimming in a lake, and dived in head first. Broke his neck. I think the stress of his injury is what triggered her MS. She and her brother were both in the hospital at the same time. Paralyzed. At least her's got better. I've met her brother since his accident, and he's just the nicest guy. Hopefully I get to meet her someday and we'll be able to compare stuff.

I hate to hear about another youngster biting the MS dust...dang it..

My DD38 has MS and so, far is following in my MS footsteps. She's in total remission as was I, at her age. She started LDN early, so I'm hoping it will help to hold the MS progression off, forever.