Living with a condition like multiple sclerosis (MS) doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying your favorite pastimes. Just ask 63-year-old Kent Manno.
Despite MS limiting the use of his legs, Kent has found ways to keep fishing, an activity he loves dearly. Having MS creates daily challenges, but Kent has found options to keep the fishing rod in hand and the joy alive. His story is a testament to resilience.
"MS doesn't have to slow you down or stop your days of fishing or enjoying a boat trip with your friends and family,” he said. “The key is to find ways to continue doing what you love without compromising health, safety, or comfort."
Dr. Mary Ann Picone, Kent’s physician and the Medical Director of Holy Name's MS Center, knows how hard it can be for people like Kent to participate in the activities they love. "Patients with MS are faced with a variety of challenges,” she said. “It is often difficult to maintain a fitness program or other pastimes when you are also dealing with fatigue, which can be debilitating. Coordination problems, muscle stiffness, and weakness can also increase the risk for falls and contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression.”
But Dr. Picone has encouraging advice: “I tell all my patients that there are modifications to help you look and feel your best in the face of some of these difficulties."
Kent knows this is true. He still relishes being outdoors and fishing; now he just sticks to the shoreline of rivers, ponds, and lakes. After facing a heart attack and now MS, Kent can attest to the positive power of fishing on his psyche.
"Fishing can be a way to handle stress-related life events,” he said.
Kent is grateful to keep doing what he loves. For him, the thrill lies in the challenge, not just in catching fish. It’s about the quality time spent outside with loved ones and the life lessons he learns along the way.
To book a consultation or appointment with Dr. Mary Ann Picone please call (201) 837-0727.
