WHAT IS VISIBL-MS?

VISIBL-MS is a framework my research team and I developed to promote early recognition of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic, often invisible neurological condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. Early diagnosis can make a significant difference in the quality of life and treatment outcomes for individuals living with MS. That’s why we created VISIBL-MS, a simple and powerful mnemonic tool to help people recognize the earliest symptoms, especially in young people, where MS typically begins.

THE ENGLISH VERSION OF THE FRAMEWORK IS VISIBLY, WITH EACH LETTER REPRESENTING A KEY EARLY SYMPTOM OF MS:

VISI

B

L

Y

VISION

PAINFUL LOSS OF VISION OR LOSS OF COLOR VISION

BELLY OR BACK NUMBNESS

THIS IS OFTEN SUBTLE AND CAN BE MISTAKEN FOR OTHER CONDITIONS

LIMB NUMBNESS OR WEAKNESS

YOUNG PEOPLE

WEAKNESS OR LOSS OF FUNCTION IN LIMBS CAN BE ONE OF THE FIRST MOTOR SIGNS OF MS

MS IS TYPICALLY DIAGNOSED BETWEEN 20-50 YEARS OLD.

HOWEVER, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THE ONSET OF THE DISEASE TO BEGIN AS YOUNG AS 10 YEARS OLD

WHY IT MATTERS

MS is often called an “invisible illness” because its symptoms can be intermittent, misunderstood, or mistaken for other conditions. VISIBL-MS was designed to make the invisible, visible—so that no young person goes undiagnosed. If we know the signs, we will change the outcome.

This framework has already been implemented in medical education programs at UConn, Yale, and Holy Cross High School and my mission is to bring VISIBL-MS to every state in the country, starting with students, providers, and communities.

When I was ten years old, my world changed forever. A close family member was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a disease with no cure and unpredictable outcomes. In those early moments of fear and confusion, I made a promise to myself—a promise to fight back with everything I had. What began as a young girl walking in her first MS Walk has transformed into over a decade of tireless advocacy, fundraising, volunteering, and research.

A World Free of MS is more than a dream—it’s my life’s mission. From raising over $30,000 for research to becoming a national ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, to meeting with state representatives and speaking at medical institutions, my journey has been fueled by love, compassion, and an unshakable belief that education can save lives.

That belief is what inspired VISIBL—MS, the first bilingual educational framework for early MS recognition. Already implemented at UConn Medical School, Yale University, and Holy Cross High School, this tool is built on a simple truth: if we know the signs, we can change the outcome. VISIBL-MS exists to do just that—to make MS visible, empower early detection, and prevent irreversible progression.

This section of my site is a window into that mission. Here, you'll find photos and videos from my 13-year journey—of me speaking, teaching, and advocating for change. My voice is loud, my purpose is clear, and my heart is all in. Until we live in a world where MS no longer steals futures, I will not stop.

We are stronger together—and together, we will build a world free of MS.