"The best piece of advice that I've received to manage my MS is to take care of myself."
Jacqueline — MS LifeLines® Nurse Specialist
Jacqueline has been an MS LifeLines call center nurse for the past three years. With 36 years in nursing, spanning five specialties, Jacqueline now finds her fulfillment in devoting her life to helping MS patients manage their lives after diagnosis. Jacqueline is all about quality of life, and helping those living with relapsing MS achieve it. What particularly impresses her, she says, is "the perseverance of MS patients who have struggled and the nurses who never leave their sides."
Jacqueline traces her nursing aspirations to the compassion of her mother, who cared for an elderly woman when Jacqueline was a child. That compassion continues to drive Jacqueline today as she listens to patients' stories, asks how they're doing with their Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) therapy, and how they're managing their lives – all in service of sharing techniques and strategies that can help.
"One time I was talking with a young mother of three children who was upset and crying because weakness in her legs was preventing her from carrying her baby around as the day went on. We talked awhile and came up with different ways she could conserve her energy, such as limiting certain household chores and setting up a board to better organize her schedule. She was so grateful!"
Jacqueline urges patients to stay in the present, to deal with what's needed today, and not to try to take in too much at once. She also encourages them not to be too hard on themselves. "I try to have them take time every day to do something kind for themselves," she says. "And call MS LifeLines. We can help you through the process!"
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