— PATIENT STORIES
The stories that sustain us
In their own words, our patients share what it means to face MS with a team that never gives up on them.
Amanda
Patient since 2009
Imagine waking up and not being able to walk or move…imagine waking up and not being able to see things clearly…imagine feeling like your body is broken. That was my life during early March of 2009. I was taken to a hospital where I was given steroids to help my vision, and after a few days I was transferred to a rehabilitation facility. I was only 29 years old.
My brother, who had MS, visited and watched the nurses use a special lift to get me into a wheelchair. He challenged me to get stronger and I became determined to do so. Eight months after I went to the hospital, I returned home and made an appointment with Dr. Carrabine, who confirmed that I also had Multiple Sclerosis. I started infusions with great anxiety, but the staff made the process comfortable. Eventually, I was back to cooking and cleaning and I found a love for walking.
In June 2014, I received a flyer from The Oak Clinic about a 5K run and decided to go for it. On September 21, 2014, I showed up with $170 in donations that I collected. My walker and I started out at 8 AM with a group of others using wheelchairs and canes. I was grateful that I wasn't alone. I finished that race in one hour, 29 minutes, and 52 seconds. The first person I saw at the finish line was my brother. The second was Dr. Carrabine. He gave me a hug and told me how proud he was of me.
It has been a very up and down journey with MS over the years. I live on my own and keep a clean apartment. I am training for my thirteenth 5K in September of 2026 by walking 3–4 miles each day. Thank you, Oak Clinic, for giving me my life back!
Heather
Patient since 2012
I woke up one day with no feeling in my left side. I went to the hospital, and after an MRI, the neurosurgeon told me I had Primary Progressive MS and would be in a wheelchair in 5 years. I was referred to The Oak Clinic. Dr. Carrabine explained the disease in great detail and told me what to expect in 10, 20, and 30 years—not 5 years.
The next 8 months were tough. I lost a job and my insurance, lost my father, got a divorce, and moved back home to Ohio. I came to the clinic for my monthly infusions and was embraced like family, and that was my happy time. I knew the infusions were expensive, but they never talked about money.
I decided to get back on my feet, and The Oak Clinic supported that decision. The Oak Clinic never gave up on me, so I was not going to give up on myself! The clinic is amazing—not just for me, but for everyone. Thank you, Oak Clinic. This place needs to stick around for a long time!
Todd
Patient since 2014
I was diagnosed in 2012, and although I was devastated, I knew what MS was. My grandmother had it years ago, before treatments, and I knew what she had gone through—a few steroid shots, a wheelchair, and a nursing home before her death. I thought that was my journey. A friend told me about The Oak Clinic, and when I saw Dr. Sheppard, the place felt different. When you come here, you feel like you're not alone.
I played golf at Ohio State on a college scholarship. That's a high level of competition. I knew how to prepare for a tournament—I was surrounded by the best instructors, coaches, and equipment. The Oak Clinic taught me how to prepare to live with MS. The best doctors, the best staff, the best care. Right now, MS is just an inconvenience in my life. I'm doing everything except playing that high level of golf!
Have your own Oak Clinic story? We'd love to hear it.