Sister to Sister
MS Means Sisterhood By Claire Lauderman, Marietta ’09
Sisterhood is many things, but to one member of the Beta Xi Chapter, it means continual support. Chelsea Almady, Marietta ’10, decided to go through formal recruitment on a whim in September 2010. She never would have guessed branching out to meet new people would result in her falling in love with Alpha Xi Delta. She was hesitant to join due to finances; she would have to pay for everything herself. Yet the more she fell in love with the sorority, the less important money seemed. After becoming a new member, Chelsea started noticing she had numbness in her left arm and hand. She experienced similar symptoms in the past, and thought nothing of it. It wasn’t until Chelsea started feeling numbness in her left foot and leg that she began to worry. Collapsing after attempting to get out of bed one morning was the final straw for Chelsea, and she decided to seek medical attention immediately. The possibilities were frightening, but Chelsea knew she had the support of her Sisters, particularly her big Sister, Hope, and her fellow Sister and roommate, Nikki. Not knowing what was wrong had Chelsea worried sick, but her Sisters were who kept her moving forward.
“I would look forward to chapter meetings and events with Alpha Xi Delta just so I had an hour to relax and not think about anything,” Chelsea explained. Although chapter meetings and events kept her calm, Chelsea considered the possibility of suspending her membership from Alpha Xi Delta as frequent doctor visits began to consume her free time. Not being able to devote 100% to her chapter caused Chelsea to feel guilty. Her big Sister eased her guilt, reassuring Chelsea the chapter would understand why she was missing the events. “The diagnosis was the most terrifying part of the whole experience,” Chelsea recalls. She started out visiting her family doctor for the appointments, which then gradually changed to a neurologist who recommended her to see a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) specialist. She was finally diagnosed in November, after enduring the terror of uncertainty for three long months. Although her mother was the one who went with her to the doctor appointments, Chelsea knew she could count on her Sisters for anything. She decided to be strong, not for herself, but for those around her—those who cared about her. It was easier to be strong for others than for herself, especially for her mother. When the chapter learned Chelsea’s family would be attending a walk for Multiple Sclerosis in April, the Beta Xi Chapter Sisters eagerly invited themselves along. Many Sisters bought t-shirts in Chelsea’s honor and planned to raise money to donate at the walk. It was incredible to see the amount of support and the meaning of Sisterhood displayed by the chapter. This selfless act brought tears to this strong young woman’s eyes. It meant so much that when posing for a picture, the coordinators of the event asked her, “What does MS mean to you?” The only word out of Chelsea’s mouth was, “Sisterhood.”
Chelsea (left) and Elicia (right) share an embrace at the walk for Multiple Sclerosis. 35 The Quill of Alpha Xi Delta
Spring 2012