Wanting to raise awareness of the disease, Longwood’s Student Nursing Association (SNA) hosted a multiple sclerosis (MS) simulation event on Friday to help students and faculty to understand the difficulties faced by those who suffer from the disease. The members of SNA had a table decked out in orange (the color that represents MS) on Brock Commons where they educated students on MS and how it impacts one’s lifestyle. SNA members gave out ribbons and beaded necklaces to students to show awareness of MS. Their table also had many simulations that represented the effects that one faces with this disease. Mariah Johnson, SNA president, named MS the “invisible disease” because there is not much awareness of how MS truly turns one’s lifestyle upside down.
SNA provided a variety of simulations to show how MS affects every part of the body and to put how people live with this disease into perspective for the students. Some of the simulations included buttoning up a shirt with gloves on to symbolize the loss of motor skills. Goggles were used to signify how this disease impairs vision. A bucket of ice water where one could fish out marbles for a short period of time which symbolized the numbness and tingles in the hands and feet of someone who has MS. The last example involved students putting on ankle weights and kicking a ball, which represented how difficult it is to be in control of one’s limbs.
MS affects 2.5 million people worldwide and SNA wanted to bring awareness to Longwood and to give students a “little walk in their shoes” as Johnson explained.
Johnson added, “I think that the simulation activities we had really allowed people to see and somewhat feel what living with multiple sclerosis is like. While these simulation activities are no testament to the reality of living with MS, but I feel that it really opened peoples eyes.”
SNA was very pleased with how successful the event was and how the Longwood community told their stories about how the disease has affected them.
Johnson stated, “As an organization we were honestly overwhelmed with the amount of people who came up to us and shared personal stories of mothers, fathers, grandparents and other family members who have struggled with MS. After seeing the appreciation of our event by these students and faculty, I am so glad that we chose the MS Society as our philanthropy and I, along with the rest of the organization is eagerly looking forward to a walk in the fall.”
SNA would like to host an MS walk to support their philanthropy this September, however making the walk a reality is still in the works. To help raise more awareness, SNA also hosts spirit nights where the proceeds go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
