In 2022, Andrea Bedoy’s life was at full throttle. After earning her master’s degree in biomedical science, she was working in research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and preparing to apply for medical school. But her life came to a screeching halt two months after her 25th birthday when she was in the hospital with a diagnosis she never saw coming: multiple sclerosis (MS).
Multiple sclerosis symptoms
What began as pain in Andrea’s right eye rapidly progressed to vision loss within a week. A severe headache followed, and she ended up in the hospital, where she spent eight days undergoing scans, lab work, and testing.
After she was discharged, Andrea found neurologist Jia Lin, MD, MPH, a multiple sclerosis expert at UTHealth Houston Neurosciences Neurology – Texas Medical Center, who confirmed the diagnosis.
“Andrea was dealing with inflammation in her eye, also called optic neuritis. This is a common symptom for MS,” said Lin, an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
Other multiple sclerosis symptoms may include numbness, weakness, tingling, and fatigue, all of which Andrea had been experiencing from the time she was a young teen.
A vitamin D deficiency is a known risk factor for MS, which Andrea had also been managing.
“I was put on high doses of vitamin D on and off my whole life,” said Andrea.
Multiple sclerosis diagnosis
There is no specific lab test to diagnose MS. Instead, doctors use imaging to look for distinct brain and spinal cord lesions or scars. Often, a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap, can help eliminate other potential diseases.
MS is classified as an autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system. More specifically, it’s a demyelinating disorder, which means the body’s immune cells destroy the protective lining around the nerves, called the myelin sheath. This can lead to a range of symptoms for people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“I like to use the example of a cable. The rubber exterior protects the wires inside, similar to how the myelin sheath protects our nerves. When the myelin sheath is destroyed, the nerve bundles are impacted,” said Lin.
Most patients are diagnosed between 20 and 40 years old, and women are more impacted than men.
There is no known cause for MS.
Emotional toll
Being diagnosed with a progressive neurological disorder was an emotional gut punch. Andrea’s mental state spiraled into a dark place.
“I was terrified. I wanted to go to med school, but I was having difficulty using my right hand, and I had no vision in my right eye. I thought my life was over,” said Andrea. “I thought I was going to be disabled. I felt I had no reason to continue living. I couldn’t see past what was happening to me in that moment.”
Newly diagnosed patients often feel similarly.
“This is a big diagnosis for Andrea,” said Lin. “There is a period when our patients may feel depressed, but there is a large MS community to lean into for support, and medical advances have slowed the course of this disease.”
Andrea credits a strong patient-physician partnership for helping her feel peace and hope.
“Dr. Lin calmed me down. She showed me my scans, talked through my fears with me, and reassured me that I’m going to live a normal life,” said Andrea.
Aggressive approach to treatment
Lin took an aggressive approach to treating Andrea’s MS.
“It’s called an induction approach where we hit the patient hard and fast with medication to stabilize the patient, prevent future relapses, and delay disability,” said Lin.
The goal is to get patients into remission as fast as possible.
With nearly two dozen treatment options available to combat symptoms of multiple sclerosis, Andrea was able to choose a medicine to fit her lifestyle: a twice-yearly infusion.
Andrea’s medicine is considered a disease-modifying treatment (DMT).
“It modifies the disease by eliminating immune cells that trigger the destruction of the myelin sheath,” said Lin.
Within six months of her first infusion, her eyesight returned, and she regained full mobility.
“I feel great, and the medicine is doing its job,” said Andrea. “It’s very convenient for my life. I can take one day, dedicate it to my treatment, and then I don’t have to think about it for the next six months.”
Andrea 2.0
Today, Andrea is back to her old self and more. Pushing herself to new heights, she has cycled twice in the Texas MS 150 bike ride, peddling 182 miles from Houston to College Station in two days.
“My dad completed the MS 150 bike ride the year I was born in 1997,” said Andrea. “Through that, he helped fundraise for MS research that I now benefit from decades later.”
In October 2024, she finished a half Ironman, which entails a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run, all completed consecutively.
Call to service
Andrea’s monumental climb from the brink of depression has led her down a remarkable path of service.
She’s an avid volunteer with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s fundraising committee for Bike MS, on their emerging leaders subcommittee, and as an MS ambassador. She shares her story with a broad audience, speaking to large groups, local media, and on podcasts.
Andrea is also a go-to patient advocate, lending her ear and voice of experience to fellow MS patients in Lin’s office who are struggling.
“I just listen to them. They need someone to talk to who has walked this walk. We share a perspective, and I’m here to help,” Andrea said.
She is about to complete a six-month clinical trial for a new therapy to treat symptoms of MS that requires a full exam every month.
“I was a little scared to do a clinical trial at first, but I knew someone had to do a clinical trial before me so that I could be on medication and lead a normal life,” said Andrea. “I feel like I need to pay that forward, and that’s why I’m doing this. I want to help somebody else.”
Medical school dreams
She continues her work with MD Anderson and is still preparing for medical school. Initially interested in emergency medicine, her attention has now turned to a career in neurology, with a specialization, of course, in MS.
“I know how scared I was when I was first diagnosed, and I hope I can bring a little extra insight into the patient room,” said Andrea. “I don’t want the next 25-year-old woman to be sitting in a hospital room feeling lost like I was.”
Long-term outlook
MS impacts each person differently; no two cases will be exactly alike.
“We have made so much progress with treatment that most people with this diagnosis will lead very fulfilling lives like Andrea,” said Lin. “I really appreciate Dr. Lin for how she took care of me and continues to take care of me,” said Andrea. “My life didn’t turn out the way I thought it was going to. I thought my life was over, but instead, it is just beginning.”
