“Each person you meet has so much to give, even you.”
This is a lesson that Kellen Prouse learnt when he started reaching out to people through his blog, and to the multiple sclerosis (MS) community. Kellen was diagnosed with MS when he was 25 years old. Two years after his diagnosis, he went on permanent disability.
Family is and has always been Kellen’s top priority. Having a family history of MS, Kellen admits that he was initially “worried about the longterm care of [his] family.” But being around his family during the years following his diagnosis was precisely the spark that drove him to change how he perceived himself and his role in the world.
“I finally understood that even without MS, nobody is guaranteed tomorrow and this realization inspired me to do something.”
Kellen made up his mind that he “no longer wanted to sit and watch life pass [him] by” when medication was not slowing down his MS progression. He decided to be more active and outgoing, and figured out that the best way to reach out to people and make new friends was by sharing his story. And that was when he started up his blog, Wheels & Red, where he documents his and his family’s journey of living with MS.
“I enjoy telling people about our life and showing them that people with disabilities can prosper and live fulfilling lives.”
He wanted his blog to be a platform where he could reach out to people from all walks of life. They could be people who related to his experiences living with MS; they could be people who are trying to understand and coming to terms with their own life ahead with MS; they could just be people who need that extra push “to see that the time you do have is worth doing all the things you love.” In short, Kellen simply wanted to connect.
Since starting his outreach to the community, Kellen has met many new people and has been presented with various opportunities along the way. For instance, Kellen took the initiative to email the executive Vice President of Marketing from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to inquire how he could be more personally connected to the MS community. That small action led to him landing a feature on the MS Connections blog, and also an interview for a potential video project.
In addition, Kellen emailed people whom he met online, and they were all extremely receptive to meeting him in person. “One of my favorites was Liz Jackson, writer of the amazing blog The Girl With The Purple Cane. I could not believe how excited she was to get to know me and we emailed each other everyday for a month,” Kellen shares. Kellen has found that by being friendly and displaying a genuine interest in getting to know someone, you will more often than not be received with a similar response. Kellen has since made friends from different countries, and while “the connections were all different, they were also all genuine.”
Connecting with people is something that Kellen continues to do, regardless of their abilities. Being a friend to someone else lets them know they are not alone, and they will always have support in the things that they do.
“You never know who you are going to meet or where it could lead. Throughout my rich experiences, I have found that friendship is the best medicine I know.”
Share this post with your friends to encourage them that they will always have a friend in you to support them.