Matthew Price was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 36 in 2004. During that year, Matthew noticed he couldn’t put his arm on his desk without it feeling like it was on a block of ice and noticed he would occasionally trip going up and down steps.
Making an initial doctor appointment with his primary care physician to explain these strange symptoms, the doctor was initially concerned it could be multiple sclerosis. To Matthew’s dismay, a neurologist confirmed after proof of several MRI’s. That neurologist told Matthew it wasn’t every day he told a 36-year-old man he had MS. “I didn’t really know what MS was at that point and not much was communicated by that doctor. He provided me with a box of injectable medications and told me I would have to take an injection every day for the rest of my life,” Matthew said.
After years of several failed disease therapy medications and extreme work stress, Matthew’s symptoms were increasing. In 2013 he started using a cane for walking assistance. After over a year of research, Matthew then had successful HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) in early 2016 to halt the MS progression. All of this was going on in the background through the years while still maintaining his full time job as a director at a major resort hotel in Florida, and raising four daughters with his wife, Rebecca. In spite of all this, Matthew did his best to battle multiple sclerosis each day.
Matthew had big expectations for the new treatment. “I thought I could start running and doing things I couldn’t do before. Realistically, the new treatment did halt the MS progression, but my physicality generally stayed the same.” Unfortunately, Matthew was pressed into medical retirement in the summer of 2016 by his employer.
Matthew and his family moved to middle Tennessee at the beginning of 2018. Then, when the world shut down in 2020 due to the pandemic, Matthew feeling a bit isolated like many others, assembled a zoom meeting with other men living with MS. An informal gathering of 5-6 guys quickly gained momentum. More and more men heard about this unique safe space where men could share and talk about their experiences with multiple sclerosis. The Men with MS Zoom Get Together was born. In 2022, the National MS Society added this unique zoom to their resources list. A men only group is rare, as MS is generally three times more likely in women versus men. The group meets via Zoom each Monday at 6 pm ET with men from all over the USA and Canada. Many times, throughout the year, Matthew will bring in MS Specialists from areas around the country who share medication updates, research and answer questions from those attending the zoom
Seeing the success of the men’s group, and realizing the need for other Zooms, both Rebecca and Matthew developed other Zoom groups including Women with MS, Overcomers (newly diagnosed), Connected (care partners, spouses, family members), and United (couples living with MS). This led to the founding of their national non-profit, Modified by MS. These Zoom groups exist to connect and encourage others as well as provide unique resources so they can live the best life they can. Our motto is, ‘Not Broken. Not Defeated. Just Modified.’
Visit www.modifiedbyms.net to connect to others living with MS and to register for the second annual Stronger Together conference in August 2025. “The majority of multiple sclerosis conferences are intended for doctors, other clinicians and pharmaceutical companies. However, the Stronger Together conference is specifically for the MS warrior and their loved ones. Filled with education from experienced doctors, motivation, and a beautiful sense of community.”
Today, Matthew’s symptoms are stable, and his MS progression is in remission. Exercise and an anti-inflammatory diet are essential and part of his daily routine. “I like to say MS is life impacting, not life defining.” While Matthew and Rebecca are guiding others with MS, their four adult daughters, two sons-in-law and six grandbabies inspire them to keep the faith. “Family time is so important to me. I want to be the best husband, father and Poppy I can be. To do that, I must take care of myself. No one else can do that for me.”
Join Modified by MS and the Cionic Team at the Stronger Together 2025 Conference in Branson, MO. Info on the event can be found here.
