Thank you for visiting our online home—we are truly humbled that you are here! Below you will read a little bit about us and how we got here…

His Story

Hi, my name is Miguel Arvelo.  I was born 56 years ago in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.  My childhood was a happy one.  My days consisted of going to school and playing outside with my older brother.  When I was 20 years old I decided to leave my beautiful island and move to cold New Jersey to live with my aunt and cousins. 

I have always enjoyed Accounting and seeing things being built.  So my hope was for a future career in the financial world or of becoming an Architect. Opportunities opened up to go into the world of banking and now, after 34 years I am still enjoying this professional career.

In April 1986, a very strange thing happened with an inner ear infection that affected my balance.  After a week in the hospital and multiple tests, including a CAT scan and spinal tap, I was sent home to recuperate.  It was over a month before I was able to walk again.  During that time, I also lost sight in my right eye to optic neuritis—luckily I regained my sight—but not 100%. I went on to regain all my functions however; no one knew how to diagnose me.                                            

In June 1990 after experiencing a fall in the middle of a busy street and losing function of my left side, I was finally diagnosed as having Multiple Sclerosis. For the last thirty plus years, I have been married to a beautiful and strong woman, the best caregiver ever, who has been with me through much uncertainty with this dreadful disease.  Together we have been blessed with three beautiful daughters. Things have not been easy and I take it one day at a time, but I am still here, thankful to God and my amazing and supportive family, whose love gives me the strength and courage I need each and every day.  

Her Story

Hello there!  My name is Silvia Perez Arvelo.  This year I turned that magical age of 50—which only means that now I am eligible for AARP and parts of my body that I didn’t even know existed are starting to hurt!

My story and upbringing was a bit different from Miguel’s. I came to the US as an immigrant from Argentina when I was 6 years old.  At the time, I was an only child and my parents’ financial situation was not the best. Brand name things were not in my closet and neither was a large home with a white picket fence.  My parents are two of the hardest working individuals I know.  They not only taught me good work ethics, but also the possibility to dream and work for the life you want.

At a young age, my parents became Pastors of a small church in New Jersey, and during this time, I was also blessed with 2 great younger sisters.  I recall my sisters and I having a good childhood, even though we didn’t have everything the other kids had. To this day, we can still laugh at the silly games we played.

At the age of 16, I started working at a law firm.  The founding attorney commented that I should go into becoming an attorney since I argued with him almost daily on our difference of opinion in almost every matter—looking back now I see how he was such a great sport for allowing this 16 year old to have a voice in his law firm.

I have always liked to work and make a difference anywhere I can.  I have held different leadership roles and have had great professional opportunities, currently working for one of the largest banks in the world. However, the opportunity to be a wife and mother has been my best blessing in the world.

Miguel and I met in November 1986 and fell in love almost immediately.  The trajectory of our lives has not been an easy one, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.   

Our Story

Miguel visited our church on Sunday morning and I couldn’t help but notice his light blue pants and white socks with dressy shoes—I thought how awkward is this guy?!?!  Later on I would find out that he was actually a very well-dressed young man with different ambitions but with an amazing and caring personality.

Although I was dating someone else, Miguel insisted that I breakup with the other guy and get to know him better and, he was right.  He is definitely the guy for me!

We married in September 1988 and had the wedding of our dreams—we saved and sacrificed so we could enjoy a beautiful honeymoon in Hawaii.  All was great in the world and we had big dreams and hopes.  However, our young marriage was not an easy one.  Our first year was a hard one—we almost didn’t make it.  We fought constantly and adjusting to living together was not a fairy tale story we would want to share with our grandchildren—it was hard!

In August 1989, our first daughter was born—she was such a beautiful child but her pregnancy was hard on both of us.  However when it was time for her birth, God blessed us with the perfect child.

Around June 1990, Miguel turned and looked at me and told me he was not feeling well and fell as we were walking on a busy street.  Neither one of us could have prepared for what our young marriage would need to face after that fall.  In a few weeks, a diagnosis of MS would be confirmed and our lives would never be the same again.  In the 1990’s, pre-Google days, very little was known about MS, and very little information was available in the form of treatment.  We decided to participate in a medical study for a promising medication, but sadly, the study was not a successful one.  Through the years, he has been on several medications—when one stops working we move to the next best for Miguel.  Earlier this year, pre-COVID, Miguel went on Ocrevus and so far he has tolerate it well.  We have not seen any real improvements but we have not seen him worsen either—we will take that as a victory!

Today, we have been married for over 31 years, have three amazing daughters, 1 service dog and 1 little cute dog and live in sunny Florida.  Miguel continues to work, even though some days are certainly a challenge.

We share our story not to add sadness in the world or to highlight how difficult it is to live or be a care-giver for someone with this illness, but instead, to impart hope and encourage you that you too can have a fruitful life, while living with MS.

The fight with this disease is a daily one, but so are the victories and glimmers of hope!