Gerald was stationed in Cyprus as a United Nations soldier when he was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). His condition prevented him from going on missions, so he returned home to find a new career.

At first, the 23-year-old wanted to carry on with life as usual. "I tried to forget about my MS. It worked for a while. I found a new way to live and my slogan was: Why should I change my life?"

Gerald formed a partnership with his MS nurse who helped give him advice about treatment and helped him understand the disease. "She has been my biggest source of support throughout my experience with MS. She has helped me understand that normal life is possible."

In many ways, Gerald’s life was not impacted by his MS. But he says, "starting my treatment early helped me keep my symptoms to a minimum."

MS didn’t change Gerald’s relationships with his friends or partner. He married his long-time girlfriend soon after he moved home. "She stayed very calm when I told her about my MS. It has never been an issue for us. She has always supported me in every situation."

His friends also were understanding when he told them about his condition. "When they realized MS wasn’t a problem for me, then it wasn’t a problem for them."

In the years following his diagnosis, Gerald’s greatest struggle was finding a new career. Already a trained electrician, he first looked for jobs in this field. But when several employers turned him down after learning he had MS, Gerald began to feel discouraged.

Over the next few years Gerald held an assortment of temporary jobs, often facing other’s misconceptions that his condition would keep him from taking on a full workload.

Looking back, he realizes that many people in the workplace were not well informed about MS. "Nobody really asked me about my situation, they had their preconceived notions."

He then sought the help of a career counselor to help overcome these challenges and soon started an apprenticeship as a media designer, which led to a steady job at an advertising agency. During this time, his wife gave birth to a little girl.

Now Gerald is back in school full-time, working toward a degree in information management. He is looking forward to a profession that will allow him to work from home and have more flexible hours.

He has kept his promise not let MS keep him from doing things that make him happy.

When he’s not studying, he spends time playing with his seven-year-old daughter. On weekends, the avid football fan and former player referees at local matches. "Even though I can no longer play, I really love football. Being a referee is a great way to stay involved and I will continue to do it as long as possible."