{"id":2565,"date":"2023-04-14T09:25:44","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T13:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/?p=2565"},"modified":"2023-04-14T09:25:44","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T13:25:44","slug":"teen-son-serves-as-primary-caregiver-for-mother-with-ms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/2023\/04\/teen-son-serves-as-primary-caregiver-for-mother-with-ms.html","title":{"rendered":"Teen Son Serves as Primary Caregiver For Mother With MS"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"alison
Cleveland Clinic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Almost one million people in the United States live with multiple sclerosis (M.S.), an autoimmune disease that damages the central nervous system. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, about a quarter of all people with M.S. need someone to help with personal care and daily activities.<\/p>\n

One of those people is 46-year-old Alison Lopez, who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Since her diagnosis in 2018, her 14-year-old son, Tylor, has been her primary caregiver. Lopez was a busy single mom, working as a flight paramedic before her diagnosis. She told Fox News Digital, \u201cI was active, on the go and health-orientated.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, she noticed extreme fatigue, limb weakness, heat intolerance, and cognitive impairment a few years ago. She said, \u201cNone of it made any sense.\u201d After feeling frustrated with local treatment options, Lopez traveled to the Cleveland Clinic\u2019s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. Dr. Carrie Hersh, director of the Multiple Sclerosis Health and Wellness program, diagnosed Lopez.<\/p>\n

Lopez said, \u201cIt felt earth-shattering. At first, I was under the misconception that it was untreatable and a horrible life sentence. Eventually, I came to look at it as a new beginning, a transition to a new and different life.\u201d At the time of her diagnosis, Lopez already had significant brain and spinal cord lesions, said Dr. Hersh. As her symptoms progressed and she started relying on a wheelchair for mobility, her son started helping out. He\u2019s been an essential part of her day-to-day care since then.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve always been a great team, but this has made us even stronger,\u201d Lopez said. Tylor said he is honored to assume the role of his mother\u2019s caregiver. He told Fox News Digital, \u201cEvery night, when I lay my head on the pillow, I think there\u2019s no better reward than knowing that I took care of my loved one today and I made a change.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, being the primary caregiver isn\u2019t without challenges. Tylor, who\u2019s homeschooled, said sometimes he worries when he has to leave home. He said, \u201cIf I go to a friend\u2019s house, I worry about whether my mom will be okay getting out of bed or going to the bathroom.\u201d Lopez said she encourages her son to have fun and pursue activities he enjoys, but she sometimes worries.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he\u2019s not around, I try to be fiercely independent, but deep down, I think there\u2019s always a little anxiety for both of us,\u201d she said. Tylor said he\u2019s learned a lot in his role, especially as he goes to her doctor\u2019s appointments with his mother. He\u2019s actively involved and asks questions about her care while there.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes when I struggle with \u2018M.S. brain fog,\u2019 he remembers things I forget and ensures I have all the information I need,\u201d Lopez said. To relax and try to de-stress, the teenager said he enjoys playing video games, watching T.V. and spending time with his friends and his mom outside the house. His goal is to one day become a forensic pathologist.<\/p>\n

He said he hopes to attend college in a hybrid mode \u2014 meaning, half the time at home, half on campus \u2014 to allow him to continue caring for his mother; he told Fox News Digital<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Almost one million people in the United States live with multiple sclerosis (M.S.), an autoimmune disease that damages the central nervous system. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, about a quarter of all people with M.S. need someone to help with personal care and daily activities. One of those people is 46-year-old Alison…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":657,"featured_media":2568,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[192,40],"tags":[636],"class_list":["post-2565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adolescents","category-physical-health","tag-ms"],"yoast_head":"\nTeen Son Serves as Primary Caregiver For Mother With MS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When Alison Lopez was diagnosed with MS, her 14-year-old son Tylor stepped up to serve as her primary caregiver and take care of his mom.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/dailycupofwellness\/2023\/04\/teen-son-serves-as-primary-caregiver-for-mother-with-ms.html\" \/>\n<meta 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