With two healthy and active sons at home, Terri and Paul Kernaghan
were very excited when a new baby girl, Caitlin, rounded out
their family in 1996. After seven years of enjoying an active
and healthy family, things started to change. Always vibrant,
Caitlin started to show unexplainable signs of illness. "She
complained about having headaches every day for two weeks," remembers
Terri. Caitlin was also experiencing loss of appetite, upset
stomach and suffered from urine retention. Her symptoms included
arm tremors stiffness in her neck and the loss of sight, which
was eventually regained.
In Canada, 45-55 children are diagnosed with MS every year and,
in 2004, eight-year-old Caitlin was one of them. That was the
start of the Kernaghan's journey of discovery. The more
they learned about the unpredictable and devastating effects
of the disease, the more they realized they had to do everything
they could to help put an end to MS.
This led to the Kernaghan's involvement
with the MS Society and their commitment to help find a cure,
raise awareness and ensure Caitlin enjoys her childhood. Along
with support from the Pediatric MS Clinic at Toronto's
Hospital for Sick Children, Caitlin and her family rely on information
and services from the MS Society's Hamilton Chapter.
"The
Hamilton Chapter has been great with us," says Terri. "We
have a real connection with them." The chapter helped
send Caitlin to special events with other children and their
families and subsidized her attendance at a Girl Guide Camp,
though an attack prevented Caitlin from going. But MS hasn't
stopped this lively 10-year-old from fighting for her health.
Caitlin's situation has inspired the entire family to play
an active role in finding a cure. That includes joining the Super
Cities WALK as Caitlin's Crusaders – a dynamic fundraising
machine. "We are hoping with us doing this, more people
will want to give money to the MS Society and find a cure in
Caitlin's lifetime," Terri says. "It's
not just an adult disease."
