**Ann Romney: Finding Strength and Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis**
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In a candid interview, Ann Romney reflects on her journey of self-care and resilience after being diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1998. A mother of five and an avid tennis player, Ann first noticed something was amiss when she started to lose her balance and experienced increasing numbness in her leg. Fatigue became so overwhelming that even a grocery store visit required her to lean on her cart for support. Now 77, Ann recalls those early signs, stating, “I knew there was something really wrong with me…but I didn’t know who to turn to or where to go for help.”
After confiding in her younger brother, an eye surgeon, Ann took his advice to consult a neurologist. Her subsequent visit to a doctor in Boston, where she and her husband, Mitt Romney, were residing at the time, led to her diagnosis. While reviewing pamphlets related to MS and other neurological diseases, she realised the seriousness of her condition. “The doctor pretty much diagnosed me in this half-hour visit,” she remembers, highlighting the abruptness of her new reality.
Following her diagnosis, Ann sought care from Dr. Howard Weiner, who would later co-direct the Ann Romney Centre for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, a centre she founded in 2014. Dr. Weiner prescribed steroid infusions, which provided some relief from her physical symptoms, but fatigue persisted. Ann recalls the Christmas of that year, overwhelmed by exhaustion and realising the limitations of conventional treatments.
Driven to regain control over her health, Ann began to explore alternative therapies. She discovered the benefits of reflexology, a practice that offered relief from stiffness and improved her mobility. Additionally, her return to horseback riding, a passion from her youth, brought her unexpected joy and motivation. “Equine therapy has proven to be beneficial for MS patients,” she noted, explaining how riding reignited her desire to engage in life.
Almost three decades post-diagnosis, Ann reports significant improvement. Living in Holladay, Utah, with her husband, Mitt, who retired from the Senate in 2025, she describes her life as largely symptom-free, aside from occasional fatigue. “I’m not sick anymore,” she asserts, emphasising the importance of self-care in her journey toward wellness.
MS is a complex and debilitating condition affecting approximately one million Americans. It targets the central nervous system, leading to varied symptoms including fatigue, mobility challenges, and sensory disturbances, making diagnosis and treatment particularly challenging. Dr. Weiner remains optimistic about future advancements in therapies for MS, stating, “We hope that in the next five to 10 years, we can stop the progression of the disease.”
Ann’s story begins in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where she was born into a family of innovators. Growing up, she developed a strong bond with Mitt, whom she met at a party during her teenage years. Their youthful romance blossomed into a lifelong partnership, culminating in their marriage in 1969. As Mitt embarked on his political journey, Ann dedicated herself to their growing family and community engagements.
Yet the diagnosis in 1998 dramatically altered her life. “It stripped me of my identity,” she remembers, expressing the profound impact of her condition, which made her feel disconnected from her roles as wife, mother, and community member. Following her initial steroid treatment, she found a semblance of stability but continued to grapple with intense fatigue and frustration.
Mitt remained steadfast beside Ann throughout her medical challenges, pledging to support her no matter the circumstances. “He said, ‘I don’t care if you end up in a wheelchair, we’re going to be in this together,’” she recalls, underscoring the importance of this commitment during such a tumultuous time.
In addition to managing her health, Ann found solace and strength through her passions and pursuits. Once established in Salt Lake City, following Mitt’s leadership role in the 2002 Winter Olympics, Ann began a regimented approach to alternative treatments: she sought reflexology and returned to riding horses, both of which significantly enhanced her physical well-being.
Today, happily married and living pain-free, Ann has channeled her experiences into activism and awareness for MS. She takes no medication for her condition and embraces her life on horseback, sharing that riding is not only therapeutic but also a source of joy for her. Ann actively engages with her research centre, focusing on fundraising and raising public awareness about multiple sclerosis.
With her memoir, “In This Together,” published in 2015, she aims to inspire those facing similar challenges, stating, “This disease humbled me, but it was also my best teacher. You can live your life and not be afraid of MS—and find treatments that work for you.” Ann Romney’s journey exemplifies resilience and illustrates how personal adversities can lead to a renewed sense of purpose and advocacy.