Stuart Schlossman is one of those guys who know how to turn lemons into lemonade. Much needed lemonade, and lots of it.

He was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in December 1998, and after making it through a post-diagnosis depression, he felt he had to use his skill as a mouthpiece for others and put to work his strong desire to help those with symptoms worse than his own. And so he did.

In 2008, after years of being an active leader in the MS community, he founded MS Views and News, a website and non-profit organization dedicated to the global collection and distribution of current information concerning Multiple Sclerosis. In collaboration with other organizations, it uses state-of-the-art communication channels to provide information for those affected by or interested in MS.

I was thrilled to come across an article in Marie Claire online about a woman named Kate Milliken, who was diagnosed with MS in 2006 and successfully reversed it using a combination of traditional and holistic approaches and an attitude of hardcore determination and positive thinking. You can find the article here.

I was even more thrilled to discover that Kate had created a website called Kate’s Counterpane where she tells her story in multi-media format. It’s incredibly compelling and a MUST-SEE for anyone with MS, or any chronic illness for that matter. She is an inspiration and I’m thrilled to have stumbled upon her existence in the vastness of this cyberworld. Please go check out her site – her story will move you.

Kate, you rock.

The following is excerpted from the article “The proven power of giving, not getting” posted by Jessica Ravitz on CNN.com onDecember 14, 2009 9:15 a.m. EST:

One person who can attest to the power of giving is Cami Walker, a 36-year-old woman who received a prescription to give when her multiple sclerosis , a diagnosis she got at age 33, left her a physical and emotional wreck.

She could barely get out of bed, and yet Mbali Creazzo, a friend and spiritual mentor, single-handedly killed Walker’s pity party. She said, “‘Cami, you really need to stop thinking about yourself. … You’re feeding this disease,‘” Walker remembers. “She said, ‘I have a prescription for you. Give away 29 gifts in 29 days.’ ”

Creazzo, a South African born medicine woman who lives in Oakland, California, explained that the idea, rooted in indigenous practices, was taught to her, although the number of days prescribed may have been different.

“Altruism has been going on for thousands of years,” said Creazzo, 58. “Why it’s so powerful at this moment is because of what’s happening in the world today. People are looking for that place inside of them where they are of some use.”

Walker, who lives in Hollywood, California, dismissed Creazzo’s suggestion at first but came back to it when she realized she had nothing to lose by trying. What followed made her a convert to the idea. Whether she simply called a friend to offer support or bought iced-tea for a homeless guy on a hot day, the simple actions made a difference. She said her mood lifted, her ability to get around improved and the progression of the disease stopped.

“I don’t see it as a cure. I still have MS,” said Walker, who went on to write the best-seller “29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life” and create an online community at 29gifts.org, where Creazzo is also involved. “I really don’t think about the limitations of my disease. I wake up more focused on what I’m capable of.”

Patricia Lay-Dorsey is an excellent example of someone living with MS, but not defined by it. She’s not a victim, nor is she allowing her illness to prevent her from being on her path. At 67 she’s having a love affair with her newfound passion, photography, despite her disability. She’s taken the reality of her life with MS and turned it into art. Essential reading!

Check out the NY Times article here.