Janice Dean Interview, Part 1

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Last week I posted at interview with Janice Dean of the Fox News Channel. That was actually the second interview I did with her. The first interview was very interesting, so I’m posting that one here for you.

What was the road to diagnosis like?

When I look back before diagnosis, there were signs throughout my life that told me things were a little “off” in terms of moods, fatigue, fainting spells, weakness etc., but it wasn’t until the 2005 hurricane season when I was working long hours that I really had the big flare-up. I literally woke up one morning and had no feeling at the bottom of my feet and parts of my thighs. I wanted to sleep for a week. I was in Canada visiting family, and went to a doctor there who told me straight up “you could have something as simple as a slipped disk, or you could have something as serious as MS – you need to get an MRI done. So, I had MRIs done when we got back to the U.S. which showed I had lesions on both my brain and spine. The doctor also performed a Spinal Tap to which I also showed the proteins that indicate the breakdown products of myelin. I was in denial for awhile, and went to 3 different doctors to confirm the diagnosis. I had a second flare up 2 years later which confirmed the diagnosis.

How did you take the news that you had MS? How did your husband take it?

I took the news horribly. I thought my life was over. I cried for days and could not believe it – until I educated myself a little more and found the right doctor to help sort through the clutter of information I was bombarding myself with over the internet. The internet is a great resource, but it can also freak you out. I told my workplace right away, and thankfully they were very supportive, and told me to take as much time as I needed off work, and that my job would still be there when I was ready to come back. Thankfully I got all the feeling in my feet back after steroid treatments, and went back to work a few weeks later.

Thank God for my husband. He was obviously worried about me, but stuck by me, and supported me through the diagnosis and still through the ongoing treatments. The best thing he ever said to me was “I am not afraid of this disease – we fight it together.” It was almost as good as “will you marry me?”

What did you know about MS before you were diagnosed?

Not much. I thought I was going to end up in a wheelchair and never be able to work again. Thankfully I had a role model already right here in the workplace – Neil Cavuto who I talked to for many hours after I was diagnosed. I cried in his office while he kept handing me tissues and telling me I would be ok, and would end up being a stronger better person because of the illness.

How has MS changed you?

It sounds corny, but I appreciate my life so much more – my family and friends have been incredibly supportive. I used to be a crazy career person. My career literally defined me. I was always searching for the next best thing – the next best challenge. Now I just appreciate my job and am thankful I can work and have fun at what I do…but it’s in a better perspective now – and I think I’m a little more easy-going – not as uptight or stressed out. Life is precious. It can be taken away in an instant. I appreciate that more. I also try to surround myself with positive people. A wise man once told me “negative people make positive people sick.” Those are words to live by.

Has MS caused you to make changes in your life to this point?

I have to get my sleep. I can’t function on 4 or 5 hours of sleep at night. It takes a tremendous toll on me. That is the most important. I’m trying to eat better – no diet sodas, more whole wheat, less sugar etc. And more exercise. I don’t smoke, and when I leave work, I try not to bring it home with me (this used to be a very hard task for me). I try as hard as I can to be a happy, upbeat and positive person.

What are you doing to treat your MS?

I take an injection. I don’t want to give away the brand name, because I don’t think one treatment is necessarily better than the other – I’m also frustrated that these drugs cost so much money. If I did not have insurance, I would not be able to afford the drugs I am on. That is unfair. Especially for people who don’t have insurance. How can they keep the illness at bay if they can’t afford the drugs? That’s my one big beef with the drug companies. I can’t wait til they can come up with a pill. My doctor says that’s not too far off.

Has your MS kept you from doing something you really wanted to do?

Nope. It has actually made me want to do more! Since I was diagnosed, I studied to become a meteorologist, I got married and hopefully someday have a family. Having an illness also makes me re-evaluate my priorities and to never take things for granted. Each day is a gift.

Since you have gone public with your MS, how have things changed for you?

Not much actually. At first it was a little weird after I went on television. I almost felt a little “naked” – showing such a private part of your life, but I did it for the next person who gets diagnosed and thinks their life is over. If I can be a positive person that continues to live life to the fullest, and someone who has MS sees this, then I can bring a bit of hope back into that person life. I know I needed to see people who had the illness and were doing ok despite the possible setbacks. Attitude is everything. The support has been overwhelming! Especially from complete strangers I’ve never met. I am humbled by it every day.

Are you part of any kind of support network/group where you can get encouragement and provide encouragement to others?

I haven’t yet joined a support group, but am certainly not ruling out being part of one. It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind just deciding to go public with my illness, but I did it with the right reasons in mind. I hope this is a first step to try and help others as well as bring awareness to the disease.

Do people treat you any differently knowing you have MS?

Interesting question. I think some have been a little shy to ask me how I am or are unsure how to approach their curiosity about the disease, but mostly it’s been incredible support, kindness and understanding.

Do you exercise more or less since you were diagnosed?

This is my one weak point. I need to exercise more. Sometimes I get so tired after work it’s hard not to lie on the couch for the rest of the evening…weekends are a little easier for me to get out and move. When my husband and I go on vacations, we always pick places where we can do outdoor activities like skiing, walking or hiking, so there is always a constant desire to exercise – I just have to find more ways to stay active.

Do you have a personal trainer, physical therapist or some other person guiding your exercise routine or did you come up with one on your own?

I would love a personal trainer, and aspire to have one maybe someday to help keep me motivated and on track. I try to walk as much as I can, and get to the gym when I have time (although you’re supposed to “MAKE TIME” for gym activities, so this is something I need to make a conscious effort to do. Living in Manhattan has been a great place to get out and exercise as most of us don’t have cars and do a lot of serious walking to get from point a to b.

How much exercise do you get and what kinds of exercises do you do?

A few times a week I walk home from work. It’s about a 40 block walk through Central Park. On the weekend my husband and I will try to get out and do something outdoors. I’m excited that warmer weather is here so I can get my legs moving more. I am a member of a gym here in NYC which I need to get to a little more often! Isn’t that always the way? I think I’m much more willing to do exercise when it’s outdoors and the weather is nice – And contrary to what you may have read, I don’t have much control over mother nature!

I see you dancing on Fox News every once in a while and I wonder if you go out dancing as part of your exercise routine?

HA! Yes, I do love to dance – much to my husband and friends embarrassment on occasion! If the mood and good music is happening, I will bust out the moves. I’ve been wondering why I haven’t been invited to more parties to show off my dance floor grooves!

Do you have any parting words of encouragement for someone who may be dealing with MS?

Just to keep on keeping on! It’s pretty big blow to be given news like “you have an incurable illness” like MS – but I think attitude is everything. If you have a positive attitude, and have positive people around you, you can overcome many obstacles in life. I think MS has actually made me a better person too – appreciating my friends and family more than ever, and trying not to “sweat the small stuff!” Life is short. Dark clouds may come, but the sunshine always comes out again after the storm pushes through.

Interview with Janice Dean the Weather Machine from the Fox News Channel

A couple years ago Janice Dean, meteorologist on the Fox News Channel, did an interview for me regarding her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. (I will post that original interview on a future post.) Last year she did a follow-up interview about her adventure of becoming pregnant and her experience as a first time mother. Here is that interview:

Well, Janice, it’s been a little over a year since you did your first interview with me. In your answer to one of my previous questions you made a comment about possibly starting a family. By my calculations, it must have been shortly after that interview that you received some joyous news, wasn’t it?

Yes! It was Memorial Day weekend last year when I found out I was pregnant. I wrote about that day on my blog so I would remember how special the feeling was when I got the news! I recently went back and re-read the “finding out” blog and remembered what it was like, and all the feelings that you go through after you “wake up” and realize the amazing journey you are about to embark on.

I’m sure finding out that you’re pregnant is exciting for everyone, but what was going through your mind as you thought about the possible issues with your MS?

I did my homework before we started trying to get pregnant, and happily, women who get pregnant and have MS have less symptoms or exacerbations while carrying a child. My MS doctor actually recommended we get pregnant (since we were talking about starting a family) I was able to go off the drugs I was on while we’re were trying, and have been off the drugs since Matthew was born which has been very liberating. The medication was the one constant reminder that there is something not quite right with my nervous system.

How did your husband react to the news?

He was thrilled – once he woke up! I went in while he was sleeping to wake him up and tell him the good news…it took a while for it to “sink in”…but we were both grinning from ear to ear that weekend.

How did your pregnancy impact your MS treatment and did you have any complications during your pregnancy?

As I mentioned earlier, I went off the injection I was on when we were trying, and have not been on the drug since. I am currently breast feeding so that’s why I’m still not using the MS drugs. I so far haven’t had any indication that the disease is progressing or getting worse. There is actually new research that says breast feeding also helps suppress symptoms of the disease. This is very exciting news for women who struggle with the illness.

While you were pregnant, did you seek advice and support from other women with MS who went through a healthy pregnancy?

My doctor was very supportive, and I’m close with my MS nurse Jennifer who kept in close touch with me throughout the pregnancy. I also have a good friend who also suffers from the disease who had a successful pregnancy who I talked to often…but we didn’t talk very much about the disease – mainly about being pregnant, and all the fun stuff that comes during those 9 months! She’s actually trying for her second child now with her husband.

I know this will be hard to put into words, but what was it like when you first laid eyes on that precious little Matthew?


Amazement and awe. It truly is an unbelievable experience when you see that your body helped make “life” It’s a love that I never knew I could feel for another human being. My heart grew bigger that day.

Since Matthew was born back in January, have you had any MS flare ups and if so, how have you handled them? Are you taking any medications now?

Nope. There have been a few little ‘aches and pains” that I will have to address once I go back on the MS drugs after I stop breast feeding. I will have to get MRI’s done to see if there have been any new lesions on my brain or spine.

Now that you are adjusting to being a mother for the first time, would you like to have more children someday?

I would. We’ll probably start trying in the New Year, but if it doesn’t happen, we’re ok with that too. Matthew is a miracle and a blessing for us.

Now for a fun question—are you hoping Matthew will become a meteorologist like you or a firefighter like your husband? (Or maybe president, an astronaut, or…)

Matthew can be anything he wants to be – sky’s the limit! …we will support any career decision he makes! But I will say I can’t wait for him to see his dad for the first time in his firefighter uniform at the firehouse. I think he will be proud of his father.

Would you like to share any parting words of encouragement for women with MS who may be thinking about pregnancy or anyone who is dealing with MS?

Pregnancy has proven to be very beneficial in women living with MS in terms of lessening of symptoms and exacerbations of the disease. You can’t stop living your life when you have a diagnosis of MS. It actually changed the way I live, and go about my life when I learned I had MS. I think in a way it made me realize I have more love to give, and perhaps even helped me make the decision to have a family. My priorities changed when living with a disease – for the better. My family is the most important thing in my life.