What is MS to Mrs?
The mission of “MS to Mrs” is to bring awareness and raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.
“MS is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, blindness and more. MS is different for everyone, and that makes it all the more challenging to solve.” – from the MS website.
Giving back to those in need is a core belief of each of the amazing wedding professionals who have donated their time and talents to “MS to Mrs.”
How it started?
MS to Mrs started as a vision from wedding photographer, Mark Fierst. In 2010, Mark’s wife, Stephanie, was pregnant with their first child. Six months into the pregnancy, Stephanie had an episode of optic neuritis and lost vision in her left eye. (A couple of weeks later, Mark left for Haiti on a mission trip with his church’s youth group). Optometrists and ophthalmologists were not able to pinpoint the reason for the vision loss and she was referred to a neurologist. This was the first time Stephanie and Mark encountered the words “multiple sclerosis.” It was advised that she return for more tests after the baby was born.
As the pregnancy went on, Stephanie’s vision returned and no other symptoms were noticeable, so they decided to forego the return trip to the neurologist.
Five years later, a very difficult conversation revealed that the symptoms, largely unseen by others, had been there for many years following the birth of their son, Jordan. Blurred vision, numbness in the hands and feet, loss of memory, fatigue, anxiety, and mood swings were among the most prevalent symptoms.
So when Stephanie was coming home from a hard day of work, Mark was often heading out for a wedding consult or to shoot an engagement session. And after a harder week of work, Mark was often heading out for a wedding, sometimes two in a weekend. As if life isn’t hard enough with MS; imagine going through the hardest parts of your week without the one person who can make it easier.
When you have a loved one who lives with MS, or any disease for that matter, good intentions can easily turn to apathy as you search for ways to help them cope. Some days it is easier than others, as you try to focus your energy on things you have control over. But every day you deal with the lingering question: what can I do? And this question became the seed for something much larger.
MS to Mrs has become the mission of Mark Fierst Photography and the other wedding professionals, not just to bring awareness to the disease, but to raise money to help find a cure. A cure that many health professionals say is right around the corner. The MS Society also looks to help the everyday needs of those currently battling this enigmatic disease.
