In 1995, at 31 years old and two months pregnant, my world suddenly went dark—literally. Over a week period I went completely blind in one eye.
Doctors couldn’t explain why, called it “idiopathic” and hoped my sight would return. Six weeks later, it slowly did. I was incredibly grateful, and I went on with my life. Soon, my husband Jim and I welcomed our beautiful son, Chris, and began the wonderful, exhausting, joyful journey of parenthood.
Then, when Chris was just two years old, it happened again.
I lost my eyesight and the entire left side of my body went numb. After countless frustrating tests, I finally received the diagnosis: Multiple Sclerosis.
There are no words to describe what that moment did to our family. Fear, sadness, unc
ertainty—everything changed. For a while, my life felt as numb as my left side.
But I have always believed that things happen for a reason.
Just one month before my second episode, a client had asked me to volunteer for Walk MS. By the time the walk arrived, I had been diagnosed with MS. I couldn’t help but wonder if somehow, I had been led there for a reason.
Our family has volunteered for and participated in Walk MS ever since.
Then, in 2007, we decided to combine two things I love—crafting and helping others. We
created MS Crop for a Cause, with one simple promise: every penny raised would go to charity.
What started as one small idea became something far bigger than we ever imagined.
After the overwhelming success of our first event, we formed the Crop for a Cause Walk MS team. We became the #1 team at our site and earned a place in the team village year after year. That success gave us the courage to take another leap of faith and create our own nonprofit foundation.
Today, our 100% volunteer organization hosts more than 10 fundraising events each ye
ar, all supporting the National MS Society. Together, we have raised and donated more than $800,000, and we are on our way to reaching $1 million.
When I look back, I realize that MS changed my life—but it did not get to define it.
It gave me a reason to fight.
It gave my family a purpose.
And it brought an incredible community of people into our lives.
Most importantly, it taught me something I will never forget:
Together, we can do what alone we cannot.
I still dream of the day when MS is no longer a diagnosis, no longer a fear, and no longer a part of anyone’s story.
I dream of the day we can finally say:
“We used to have MS.”
Until that day, we will keep fighting.
We will keep fundraising.
We will keep believing.
Because hope is powerful—and when people come together for a cause, hope can change the future.
Laura Machonis
Learn More About Laura’s Journey and the 15+ Years of MS Crop for a Cause
