Parenting with MS: Finding Strength, Joy, and Resilience

Parenting is one of life’s most rewarding—and most demanding—journeys. Sleepless nights, shifting routines, and the constant question of “Am I doing this right?” are familiar to every mom and dad. But what happens when you add multiple sclerosis (MS) into the mix?

In this new episode of the MS Living Well Podcast, Dr. Jamie Holloman, MS neurologist at the MS Center for Innovations in Care at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, explores this important topic: Parenting with MS. Drawing from his own experience as both a new father and the son of a mother with MS, Dr. Holloman brings unique insight into how families can thrive in the face of chronic illness.

This episode is sponsored by TG Therapeutics.

Expert Perspectives on Parenting and MS

Amy Sullivan, PsyD

Dr. Holloman is joined by Dr. Amy Sullivan, Clinical Health Psychologist and Director of Behavioral Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center. With more than 15 years of experience, Dr. Sullivan has worked extensively with individuals and families facing MS. She shares practical strategies for managing fatigue, addressing guilt, and reframing expectations—highlighting how parenting with MS can foster deeper resilience, empathy, and meaning in family life.

Julie Stamm

Later in the episode, Dr. Holloman speaks with Julie Stamm, MS advocate and author of the children’s book Some Days: A tale of love, ice cream, and my mom’s chronic illness. Diagnosed with MS in 2007, Stamm has dedicated her career to educating and supporting families navigating chronic disease. She discusses the importance of open communication with children, the lessons in empathy that often emerge, and why MS should never be the reason someone decides against becoming a parent.

Why This Conversation Matters

From coping strategies during relapses, to age-appropriate ways of discussing MS with children, this episode offers valuable takeaways for both newly diagnosed patients and long-time parents. The discussion underscores a hopeful reality: while MS brings challenges, it also has the power to strengthen family bonds and instill resilience across generations.

Tune In

Whether you’re living with MS and raising children now, or considering starting a family in the future, this episode will leave you encouraged and empowered!