Statement from Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan
Clarksville, TN – “A few days ago, I was diagnosed with MS, Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a condition that affects thousands of people, and I’m now one of them. ”
“I’m grateful to the tremendous medical team, who is so effectively teaching my family and me about this condition. ”
“I want to thank the many people who offered prayers and support this past week. Rest assured that I look forward more than ever to continuing to work hard every day to help Clarksville be the best place to live, work and raise our families.”
During the press conference, Kim McMillan said “I intend to continue training for triathlons. I am very active and Doctors tell me this should not affect my active lifestyle in the least.”
When asked “So being that you are a public spokesperson for this community, do you plan on sort of embracing the cause and trying to put a fact to it here in Clarksville?”
McMillan stated “Well I hope so. I want people to see that you can continue to be the mayor. You can continue to live an active lifestyle. You can continue to do everything that you did before even with certain types of chronic conditions. If I can put a face on it and if I can help anyone in anyway say, yes, you can go ahead you can do what you want to do, then I hope that I can do that.”
Press Conference Video
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETZfXAz24AQ[/youtube]
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects your brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This damage slows down or blocks messages between your brain and your body, leading to the symptoms of MS.
They can include:
- Visual disturbances
- Muscle weakness
- Trouble with coordination and balance
- Sensations such as numbness, prickling, or “pins and needles”
- Thinking and memory problems
No one knows what causes MS. It may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when your body attacks itself. Multiple sclerosis affects women more than men. It often begins between the ages of 20 and 40. Usually, the disease is mild, but some people lose the ability to write, speak or walk. There is no cure for MS, but medicines may slow it down and help control symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy may also help.
