BMS Magazine BSM Magazine April 2020 | Page 13

they will either fly in, come or leave money on the table, I don’t have to ask, they do it, and I also leave mon- ey in every city I go to for MS. When I speak without a fee, I am there as a servant. I want to touch lives. I am on a mission to raise funds to find a cure faster. My life depends on it. Do you think by going back to mod- eling, it gives hope to the millions who suffer from MS that they too can live their dreams? Well, I look at life a little bit differ- ently. Let me put it this way, yes, I am a model that has MS, but I don’t let being a model or MS define me. I define it. Camerone defines be- ing a model. Camerone defies the odds of having MS. I celebrate every single day as an MS patient because they are no two MS patients alike. We may have common threads of the disease, but it’s like a snowflake, no two is the same. I can’t tell you why today I can put on heels and lipstick and slay a runway, and tomorrow I won’t be able to move. I can’t tell you. My doctors can’t tell you either. The positive message is to look at every single day and take advantage of it and be inspired. Everything is around you. If all you can do is sit up and blink your eyes, then be grate- ful and have gratitude that you can blink your eyes. It starts with simple things and being mindful and grate- ful. At the time the interview took place, Camerone suffered a heart attack and required heart surgery. This is what she had to say for how she feels in 2020. to make sure everything is right. As an MS patient, we complicate things as I have learned (laughs). This year’s success by the inch is synced by the yard because it can be difficult. I love that it’s 2020. I love that I am married to an eye surgeon because I have my sight set on moving forward now for MS patients. I have done the research, and there are all kinds of new studies that show MS patients are more likely to have a heart attack and or cardiac issues. More exten- sive exams (not a regular physical), is needed for an MS patient. A stan- dard echocardiogram is not enough. Doctors need to do a little bit more What do you want people to take away from the work you do with MS and treatment? Camerone The number one takeaway is not judging a book by its cover. I know as a model that sounds very opposite because I’m needing you to look at the cover right (laughs). What I mean by that is just because today I am not in a wheelchair or walking with a cane does not mean I don’t have MS. There are a lot of invisible symptoms people can’t see aside from my two eye surgeries. For people: Always, always reach out. The National MS Society is a great organization, and they update their website literally almost every hour because of their investment in all the new disease- modifying drugs. I should mention, the modifying drug’s purpose is to slow the progression of the disease, and it may not necessarily make you feel better. For MS patients, don’t be afraid to be proactive in your treat- ment and do what’s best for you as far as what makes you feel good. If that means soaking in a bathtub and getting a haircut, do what makes you feel good and celebrate gratitude for that day. Favorite social media handle where people can follow your amazing platform. Instagram: @cameroneparkermcculloch Twitter: @_CameroneParker Facebook: Camerone Parker McCulloch By La Trisha M. and La Tasha T. Photo by: Robert Kazandjian BSM MAGAZINE | BSMANDMEDIA.COM | 13