When Hope Is All You Have Left
When Hope Is All You Have Left
Laura Quirk
Dr. Laura Quirk is a professor of history at Conestoga College in Ontario, Canada. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1988. Since then she has struggled with her physical health and faced mental health challenges related to her condition. In this essay, she writes about her experience with the disease and the development of her career as a professor.
Learning Objectives
After reading this essay, you should be able to:
- Describe some symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Identify different ways in which MS symptoms can impact a person’s everyday life.
- Describe how an MS diagnosis can impact a person’s mental health.
- Discuss the role of hope in Laura Quirk’s journey after diagnosis.
Before You Read
Reflect on and answer the following questions before you read this essay.
- What do you know about multiple sclerosis?
- Do you know the difference between a visible disability and an invisible disability?
- Have you ever experienced a challenge so great that you did not believe you could overcome it?
Content Warning: This essay discusses substance abuse, child neglect, and suicide ideation.
