Multiple Sclerosis affects over 2 million people, most of them young, from all over the globe. It may cause accumulative physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities of various levels, from the ever slightest and unfelt to the most sever and chronic, impacting all life’s faculties. The medical and economic burden and the social and familial hardships it inflicts are so immense, that many are forced to give up developing their academic and professional career and family.

Two months ago I was urgently called upon by the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s CEO, Mrs. Jeanine Vosburgh, to assist the young and promising professional basketball player, Chris Wright, who is ill with Multiple Sclerosis, and who began playing for Hapoel Holon team.

Unable to receive a medical insurance in Israel, the effective but costly treatment he has been taking in order to prevent the progression of his illness was put at risk. As someone who has treated MS patients for over 25 years and is very familiar with the related systems, I managed within two days to acquire a donation of the medicine from Medison Pharma, and to treat Chris with an infusion in the Barzilai Hospital’s MS clinic. There I had the pleasure of meeting a gifted athlete and a wonderful individual who is determined to remain in control of his life and not let his illness take over. When he was told by the best US specialists that he will have to give up his career as a professional basketball player, he chose the one doctor who encouraged him to continue in his path and receive the optimal treatment for his illness, which includes not only an effective medicine, but also a positive attitude and an uncompromising ambition to realize his professional and personal dreams. Despite momentary pitfalls here and there, in the three years since his diagnosis Chris managed to play professional basketball in the NBA and in Europe, to reach significant professional achievements, and to live a full social and familial life.
Most importantly, Chris is someone who can inspire thousands of people with MS in Israel, and millions across the world, and prove that with a strong will, a positive attitude and the readiness to take responsibility for your life and treatment, nothing, including a disease like Multiple Sclerosis, can stand in your way.

Chris, who has established a foundation in his name whose goal is to raise public awareness for the illness and to support patients in need, is an important role model and a symbol for people suffering from MS, as well as for their families and therapists. With the help of good people, we will continue to help Chris as long as he stays in Israel. However it is important that he is granted the medical insurance he needs in order to free him of the anxiety in the absence of a medical security, and to enable him and his expecting wife focus on his professional and public engagements, for the benefit of Israeli basketball and for the benefit of thousands of MS patients in Israel who can draw inspiration and encouragement from his story and to better cope with their illness.

Dr. Ron Milo,
Head of Neurological department and MS clinc
The Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon