Motivational Speaking about my Human Weeble Wooble Health

Brendan Handfield Start Date: Feb 2, 2025 - End Date: Nov 18, 2025
  • Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

My Travel Story

by: Brendan Handfield Start Date: Feb 2, 2025 - End Date: Nov 18, 2025
I was diagnosed with SPMS in 2003, working my Ultimate Dream job as a Police Officer. While on a detail in July half my body went completely numb. My lips, ear, eye, arm, and leg. So many thoughts run through your head, is it a brain tumor, a stroke? I went to the ER for 13 hours of poking, prodding, and every test, I was even a Guinea pig for LP's (Lumbar Puncture), spinal taps. I was then told we have NO idea and was referred to a Neurologist who then broke the news over the phone. I worked for six months until the Ugly truth that I could not in good conscience do the job, I had to resign. The more I dove into the MS community the more I realized that it was a disease that was not explained well to patients and their families. It is also the only disease where they give you a stack of medication information packets and tell you to pick one. I finally found a you Neurologist who went to Europe to learn more about MS. I was then diagnosed with Cancer in November of 2020, the height of COVID, meaning no one could come with me. I then had COVID myself in 2021. The last six months I have been in the ICU 3 times, my diaphragm doesn't get signals to work, my O2 level was so low the ER Doctor told my wife "He's a fighter, I have Never seen O2 so low and a person survive!" I not only survive, I thrive! I have run and finished the Boston Marathon twice, this was because the Neurologist told me I would only upset myself for training and not able to finish. Every 6 months I get an infusion of chemo for my MS. The last infusion a woman who happened to be a corporate CFO, came over and asked my name and said "How are you so positive?" I told her it is all because my blood type B+, she was amazed. I laughed, I said that's not my blood type. She then told me "You must travel around and tell your story and show your "Prop" that visually lets people understand it clearly. I found a Bluebird Coach that has radiant floor heat, is efficient and will allow me to travel with all my MS aids, Scooter (Super Fast) walker, and assortment of canes. It is the "Secret Santa" disease, you Never know what your going to get! I will have "Merch" and continue to build my YouTube channel MSisBS.
  • Phoenix, AZ, United States of America