In 1992, my mother was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.  She was 36 and recently graduated from college with a 15-year-old son (me) and 5-year-old daughter at home.

She stopped driving in 1995, walking in 1997, and was confined to a nursing home from 1999 until her death in 2010. I became her power of attorney in 2003; during those 7 years we experienced the best and worst of the healthcare system from every angle.

Having taken so much, I feel deeply obligated to give back, and fortunate to be able to influence how care is delivered.