In March 2012, Tim Brouwer, 57, was identified with a number of sclerosis. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
A number of sclerosis is an incurable central system nervous dysfunction. The physique’s immune system assaults myelin, which coats nerve cells. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“That was a showstopper. I used to be devastated. There have been tears,” Brouwer mentioned. He looked for assist—one thing, something to melt the blow. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
In 2016, he met with Danita VanderKodde, PA-C, MSCS, an authorized a number of sclerosis specialist with Spectrum Well being Neurosciences. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
VanderKodde supplied assist and hope within the type of Ocrevus infusions. Ocrevus is an intravenous treatment, administered twice a yr by infusion. It changed his earlier drugs. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Brouwer’s spouse, Laura, has helped him by his analysis and has been a optimistic gentle. “There have been many rock stars on this journey, however Laura is my complete hero,” he mentioned. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Whereas mowing the garden at his Grand Rapids dwelling on a sizzling summer season day in 2011, Tim Brouwer started to really feel unusually weak.
When he turned to mow one other row, his left leg began to pull.
“I needed to sit down,” Brouwer, 57, mentioned. “I couldn’t end. I believed possibly it was a slipped disc or possibly a pinched nerve. Or possibly it was Lyme illness.”
It wasn’t any of these.
When Brouwer later went to see his physician, the phrases “multiple sclerosis” got here up.
For a second, Brouwer caught his breath.
May it’s?
A number of sclerosis is an incurable central system nervous dysfunction. The physique’s immune system assaults myelin, which coats nerve cells.
The harm to the myelin interrupts indicators from the mind to the physique. Signs embrace muscle weak spot, bladder issues, numbness, persistent ache, fatigue and issue with coordination, steadiness and imaginative and prescient.
At any time when the climate warmed or grew extra humid, Brouwer felt his limbs tingle and go numb.
His physician did extra checks and instructed Brouwer he had in all probability begun to develop the illness a few years in the past. Brouwer thought again to his 20s and recalled moments when his legs felt oddly numb.
“By March 2012, the analysis was confirmed,” he mentioned. “That was a showstopper. I used to be devastated. There have been tears.”
Brouwer looked for assist—one thing, something to melt the blow.
Discovering hope
In 2016, he met with Danita VanderKodde, PA-C, MSCS, an authorized a number of sclerosis specialist with Spectrum Health Neurosciences.
“He had been taking treatment since 2014 and he was experiencing uncomfortable side effects from these drugs,” VanderKodde mentioned. “An MRI confirmed greater than 20 lesions on Tim’s mind, a number of scars attributable to his physique attacking itself.”
He additionally skilled intolerance to warmth, one thing widespread in sufferers with a number of sclerosis.
VanderKodde supplied assist and hope within the type of Ocrevus infusions.
Ocrevus is an intravenous treatment, administered twice a yr by infusion. Brouwer had heard in regards to the drug on the nightly news. He felt keen to provide it a attempt.
“The infusions take 4 to 6 hours initially, much less time for later infusions,” VanderKodde mentioned. “Ocrevus appears to focus on particular sorts of B cells within the physique that may be the drivers of the assault on nerve cells. B cells can activate the immune system and trigger T cells to assault neurons. Ocrevus can interrupt that course of.”
The Ocrevus infusions can substitute the every day drugs taken by sufferers with a number of sclerosis, VanderKodde mentioned.
“That meant no extra uncomfortable side effects of meds,” Brouwer mentioned. “I used to be instructed Ocrevus may have uncomfortable side effects for some, however I by no means skilled any.”
Spa days
Brouwer got here to name the times on the Spectrum Health Integrated Care Campus his spa days.
“The infusion nurses there are fabulous,” Brouwer mentioned. “I anticipated to enter some place with chairs lined up and everybody hooked as much as IVs, however as a substitute it’s extra like workplace cubicles, with TVs, web, a heat blanket in case you want it.”
Brouwer, who has at all times loved staying busy, discovered he may even work whereas receiving the infusion.
For the previous 37 years he’s labored in gross sales for a small firm situated on the Gerald R. Ford Worldwide Airport.
Nurses Kasie Holderman, RN, CNRN, Jamie Wertz, BSN, RN, and Yen Davis, BSN, RN, all tended to Brouwer throughout his infusions.
“Tim had his first infusion March 2019,” Holderman mentioned. “He’s had seven in complete now.
“At this level, the infusions take about three-and-a-half hours. And that features commentary time, once we look ahead to any uncomfortable side effects. Reactions is likely to be rashes or hives, an itchy throat or ears—however Tim had none of these.”
Wertz smiles on the point out of Brouwer.
“He would often are available in together with his spouse, Laura,” Wertz mentioned. “Tim would at all times take prescription steroids previous to the infusions to beat back any uncomfortable side effects, and it labored.”
The Ocrevus infusions don’t at all times enhance the affected person’s situation, a lot as stabilize it, Davis mentioned.
“Ocrevus has gained recognition because it was launched in 2017 as a result of it replaces the every day drugs and injections sufferers would possibly in any other case want,” Davis mentioned.
Giving and receiving
Enthused by the enhance from the infusions, Brouwer has shared his experiences—and hope—with different sufferers.
“I discuss frequently with a pair different males who’ve MS,” he mentioned. “We discuss what assist is offered to us—units, energy chairs, hand-control driving.”
To maintain up his work schedule, Brouwer had a automobile outfitted for hand-controlled driving.
His spouse helped him maneuver the method, working with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and state licensing officers to transform his driver’s license and adapt his automobile.
“I labored with an teacher and needed to go a check first, then had my automobile modified,” Brouwer mentioned. “Laura spearheaded that. She’s my rock star.”
For a second, Brouwer’s voice trembles as he fights tears of gratitude.
“There have been many rock stars on this journey, however Laura is my complete hero,” he mentioned. “And my cane that I take advantage of for strolling—I name it the sympathy stick.
“With that cane I’ve gotten to see who persons are, how they reply to sickness,” he mentioned. “Usually, I’ve discovered persons are superb, how strangers will exit of their means to assist. That’s been the optimistic aspect of getting MS.”
Brouwer recounts how his spouse has at occasions reminded him he might not even notice how a lot individuals care.
“She’s instructed me how individuals typically stroll behind me,” he mentioned. “And I by no means knew it, all of the individuals standing behind me to catch me if I fall. It’s the facility of the cane. And my religion. And all the nice individuals at Spectrum Well being. I see the world now in a brand new means.”
