Rowlands making a difference, offering hope to those affected by MS

(Photo by Kris Todd) Katie Rowlands, 22, models the T-shirt Team Rowly members will be wearing during the May 9 MS Walk in Des Moines. [Order this photo]

The front of Katie Rowlands T-shirt -- which avows "Team Rowly 2009 MS Walk" -- lets you know what she and her teammates will be doing this Saturday in Des Moines.

But it's the back of her T-shirt that truly offers a glimpse into the 22-year-old woman's disposition. It declares, "Rowly: Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can."

Rowlands was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in February 2005, her senior year at Ruthven-Ayrshire Community School District. The chronic, often disabling disease attacks the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. People diagnosed with MS typically experience one of four disease courses, each of which might be mild, moderate or severe.

Rowlands, then 17, was initially diagnosed by Dr. John Hilsabeck. She visited the Spencer-based family doctor because of the migraines she'd been suffering from. She'd contributed her headaches to a lack of caffeine, not enough sleep or because of the concussions she'd suffered during various sporting events.

But after asking a few questions, Hilsabeck uncovered additional telltale signs of the disease. The doctor tied these symptoms together and sent Rowlands for an MRI scan. After receiving the results, she was sent to Mayo Clinic the following week. There, the Rowlands family received a reaffirmation of her MS diagnosis.

In true Rowlands spirit, she returned home and played in a basketball game. Ervin "Erv" Rowlands, her father and superintendent of Ruthven-Ayrshire schools, admitted he simply wanted to protect his daughter.

"I lost the battle on her playing basketball the day after we got back from Mayo," he confided with a slight smile while seated in his school office this week.

His daughter didn't let the diagnosis change her approach to life. Rowlands, who deemed herself a "typical high school kid," continued playing volleyball, basketball and soccer. She stayed active in choir, concert and jazz band. The percussionist performed during the state solo ensemble contest. Rowlands also worked as a lifeguard in Ruthven that summer.

Symptoms of MS, such as Rowlands has, may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The disease's progress, severity and specific symptoms are unpredictable and vary from one person to another.

"Every case of MS is so different. I really just know how it affects me," she said. "My legs are my big problem. I have a tingling sensation pretty much nonstop in my legs. Occasionally they'll get weak and give out and I'll fall or trip up. I have headaches a lot and my hands kind of cramp up a lot. But other than that, I really don't have any other symptoms."

"With the MS that I have, I can be fine for six months, no change. But then, I'll have two months where the symptoms get a lot worse," she continued. "With some people, they get new symptoms. I haven't had that, though."

Immediately following her February 2005 diagnosis, Rowlands was told that she could either begin treating the neurological disorder then or wait to see how it progressed for her. She chose to start the headache medications prescribed to her at that time, and then acted as if she didn't have MS for a while.

That changed when the former University of Wisconsin-Platteville student accepted her diagnosis after visiting with others, reading more about it and fully understanding what it was. Rowlands found herself experiencing flare-ups when her MS was aggravated by stress, heat and fatigue -- which are all common for college students.

"I guess I realized that it was a little more serious than maybe I had given it credit," she said.

Rowlands returned home to attend classes at Iowa Lakes Community College and Buena Vista University (BVU). In October 2007, she started on injections of Rebif three times a week for her treatment.

To counter fatigue, Rowlands tries to get at least eight hours of sleep every night. For stress, she attempts to clear her plate of extra things so she can concentrate on what's most important - such as finals this week. And for heat, Rowlands tries to make sure she has access to air conditioning in her accommodations today.

The former doubter-turned-advocate also regularly visits a Sioux Falls neurologist known for specializing in the treatment of MS patients. And, she's still refusing to let MS get in the way of her goals.

"Ever since I came back, I've held a full-time job while going to school full-time," Rowlands reported Monday morning. "I really loved being back here in our area. I got to watch my nephew grow up for the last three years. I was around to see my brother's high school (activities) and graduation. And financially, it was nice because college was a lot cheaper this route. ... I'm not sitting with thousands of dollars of debt right now. And, I found a job that I love and I'm moving forward with. So, it's turned out to be really great."

Rowlands, who moved to the Des Moines suburb of Altoona three months ago, serves as the assistant manager for a Fridley Theaters movie theater. She's also marking her senior year as a BVU student pursuing a business administration degree online.

The 22-year-old woman is also among those treading in the forefront of raising awareness about the disease and its much-sought-after cure. Rowlands not only chooses to participate in the annual MS Walk, she's been matched up with a teenager in Minnesota recently diagnosed with the disease to offer her advice. She also accepted the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Achiever of the Year Award in 2007 for being a positive example for others with MS.

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Support Team Rowly, help find a cure for MS

Team Rowly members are preparing to lace up their tennis shoes, don their pink T-shirts and walk to support the fight against multiple sclerosis (MS) this Saturday in Des Moines.

It'll mark the fourth time the Ann and Ervin "Erv" Rowlands family of rural Ruthven has participated in a North Central States Chapter of the National MS Society-sponsored walk in Iowa. The chapter, which serves 8,000 individuals with MS in Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota, is moving toward a world free of the chronic autoimmune disorder which affects movement, sensation and bodily functions.

Team Rowly 2009 includes Ann and Erv Rowlands, Katie Rowlands, Andy Rowlands, Pat Faber, Shelley Gaunt, Lynn Geelan, Malorie Grange, Kelli and Trenton Keefer, Alexis Keefer, Noah Keefer, Jolene Lutz, Sarah Lutz and Regina Reynolds. With regard to the team's name, it came about when Katie Rowlands was a freshman at Ruthven-Ayrshire. The young woman's former soccer coach, Robert "Rob" Gale of England, couldn't pronounce her last name -- and the nickname he gave her stuck.

The team of family, friends and coworkers is walking on her behalf. The 22-year-old was diagnosed with MS her senior year of high school.

While Team Rowly members have hosted pancake breakfasts in Ruthven to raise funds in the past, they arranged a fundraiser with Raelynn and Ron Sanculi, the owners of Mad Butcher Salsa, to sell the locally-grown and produced spicy delicacy this year. Proceeds from the sale of 99 cases of salsa are being combined with contributions received from a letter writing campaign targeting Clay and Palo Alto County businesses.

"Watch for next year, because we're hoping to go Mad Butcher again," Erv Rowlands said.

Even though the walk is scheduled for Saturday in Des Moines, donations earmarked for MS research, support groups and lobbying efforts will still be accepted following the event. To contribute, visit the National MS Society Web site, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society North Central States Chapter Web site, search for Team Rowly members online on both sites or mail your contribution directly to Team Rowly; c/o Ann Rowlands; 3212 335th Ave.; Ruthven, Iowa 51358.

"It all ends up going to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, whether it's our team or the organization as a whole," Erv Rowlands said.