In late 2019, Marti Hines took a big step forward when she decided to share her personal journey with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in a transparent and open manner through Marti’s MS Life. It has served as both information and inspiration for those who have been diagnosed.
The road to this point had been anything but easy for Marti. She was diagnosed with this immune disorder in 2018 after a terrifying incident that changed her life overnight.
“It was a really traumatic entry into this world of Multiple Sclerosis because I didn’t have really any symptoms that were, at least, of note.”
While she had experienced tingling sensations in her extremities a few weeks prior, Marti brushed it off as a temporary side effect of her recent travels. Little did she know that her life was about to change dramatically.
On one fateful morning, she awoke to find her body partially paralyzed and instantly realized that something was seriously wrong.
“I had never been sick before. I had never been in the hospital before,” Marti explained. “I woke up with a shooting pain down the left side of my body and realized I was paralyzed. The emergency room doctors weren’t really sure what was wrong with me.”
Hours of medical tests, examinations, and being rushed to a second hospital led to the revelation of several lesions on her brain and spinal cord through an MRI scan. This discovery was consistent with Multiple Sclerosis.
“It was such a jolt and a fast course into M.S. I didn’t know much about it,” Hines recalls. “They always tell you “don’t go to Google.” But I did…and I was terrified.”
The pages that Marti read told of all the worst-case scenarios that she could face. The disease has many different effects and they all were there. Her initial experience, as with many newly diagnosed patients, was a confusing and isolating time.
“What added to that confusion was that most of the images and references to this disease were that of middle-aged white women.”
In 2022, Marti Hines received a significant opportunity to make a difference when she was invited to be a part of the National MS Society’s domestic campaign, which launched in the heart of New York City’s Times Square. The campaign aims to raise awareness about MS and provide support to those affected by the disease.
As a Black woman, Marti quickly recognized that there was a lack of awareness and understanding surrounding MS, particularly when it came to the unique experiences faced by people of color.
Drawing upon her position in the entertainment world, Marti Hines decided to use her voice to shed light on this lesser-known aspect of MS. Launching Marti’s MS Life, she became a resource for fellow MS warriors and the general public, spreading awareness and providing support. It has allowed her to help others during difficult times that she herself at experienced,
“What I’ve heard most is that people just want to be seen and they want to be heard and they want to be believed, especially with M.S. being an invisible illness.”
The invisible illness aspect is a major point for many with the illness. Marti urges people to be kind. She knows the ways that MS can create confusion and misguided judgment from outsiders. Marti partnered with Genentech’s #MSVisibility campaign to raise awareness for how the invisible symptoms of MS impact her daily life and mental wellbeing.
“One day you can see me and I could be using a scooter or a cane or not able to walk at all. Then, the next day, you could see me at Walk M.S. event walking three miles. I think it is hard for our brains to process.”
Through Marti’s MS Life, Marti Hines aims to bridge this knowledge gap. Her platform serves as a shining example of the importance of community by offering valuable insights and resources to those facing similar struggles. By sharing her own experiences, she helps others navigate the often daunting journey of living with MS.
Marti Hines is a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Despite the hardships she has endured, she remains determined to make a difference and bring attention to the heightened symptoms experienced by people of color with MS. Through Marti’s MS Life, she continues to raise awareness, empower others, and foster a sense of community among MS warriors and the general public.
The important message that Marti Hines shares is one that she hopes people will hear.
“Sick can look a lot of different ways. It doesn’t necessarily have to be someone in a hospital bed. There are days when I am fully dressed, in make-up, and I am having one of the highest pain days that I ever had. So that’s a shift I would love to see people become more aware of and something I always try to talk about.”
