For many, the age of 24 is a time of planning for the future. For Crystal Gaines, it was the year her world changed. In 1997, Crystal, an active graduate of Hampton University, was dating her now-husband and building her career when she received a diagnosis that few young adults expect: multiple sclerosis. Today, nearly 30 years later, Crystal reflects on a life defined not by the disease but by her resilience in navigating it.
Crystal’s journey began not with a slow decline, but with a sudden, alarming symptom. While working at her computer in January 1997, she noticed her vision becoming blurry. Despite a very low prescription and no prior history of sight issues, the blurriness persisted.
“I went in to my primary care, and then she said, ‘Well, you might want to see a neurologist,’” she recalls.
While her vision issues were later identified as optic neuritis, she describes them as the catalyst for her diagnosis. Looking back, she realizes there were signs earlier in life. “I think back on things that may have happened to me growing up; I used to get pins and needles in my feet a lot and my hands would get [really frostbit and cold] when I was skiing,” she tells BlackDoctor. “So those were things that, now that I look back on my childhood, probably were early signs.”
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The early days of diagnosis were a whirlwind of medical appointments and uncertainty. Crystal recalls her first neurologist having a difficult bedside manner, offering little more than the vague advice to “just keep going on about your life” because MS affects everyone differently.
“In the beginning, you know, with having kids, doctors will say, ‘Well, it could exacerbate. You could have a relapse’… Everything is like it could do this, it could do that, but you never know until you’re in it. So, it was one of those things I kind of kept on going, kept on moving,” shares the mother of two children.
Taking that advice to heart, Crystal did just that. She moved forward with her marriage, built a successful life in Alexandria, VA, and raised a family, all while learning to manage the complexities of a chronic illness—including learning to walk with walking sticks and drive with hand controls.
Over the decades, Crystal has navigated several different neurologists and evolved her approach as medical understanding grew. She eventually landed on Dr. Heidi Crayton in 2014, Director of the MS Wellness Center of Greater Washington.
“When I went to see my neurologist [previously]… she was okay, but, like I mentioned before, not so forward-thinking. She was more of a general neurologist, and she said, ‘Crystal, I think you should really see an MS specialist—somebody where that is their practice,’” Crystal explains.
This partnership was a pivotal point. Throughout the journey, Crystal encountered “hard stops” where she could no longer get away with certain activities. The first things to go were small joys: high heels, line dancing, and the fast-paced “strutting” she once loved. “The heels were probably the first to go… they just would feel uncomfortable because my feet had the pins and needles,” she recalls.
Driving presented its own set of challenges for her. She remembers a frightening experience in 2013 when she was driving down a snowy hill, an initial warning sign.
For 10 years, she continued driving with her feet, though it was never comfortable and she stayed away from big cities. But in September 2023, while backing out of her driveway, her foot went under the brake again. “It didn’t go on the brake; it went under the brake, and I couldn’t stop. That was it. My husband was like, ‘That’s it. No more,’” she recalls.
Crystal refused to let her mobility stop there. Her husband researched accessible driving, and she enrolled in a specialized course. “My doctor also sent me the course. I had to take an eight-week course with hand controls, where they come out and drive with you.” After the DMV road test, she earned her special license and had the system installed.
“Now my car can be driven with feet or with hand controls. There is a button I press when I’m driving… It’s been life-changing because now I drive anywhere with no thought about it. There’s no more worry,” she shares.
Technology and physical aids have allowed her to maintain her active social life. She credits specific tools for helping her “keep on moving”:
Crystal’s commitment to movement remains a cornerstone of her life. A dedicated yogi for over 22 years, she faced a setback in 2024 following knee surgery, but 2026 marked a turning point as she returned to yoga with a mindset focused on modification:
She has also seen a shift in treatments: “I remember when I first changed neurologists, she said, ‘Oh no, we don’t do injections anymore. There are many different options now.'” This move to innovative oral therapies and infusions has allowed her lesions to remain stable for decades.
In a healthcare system that often feels rushed, Dr. Crayton has shown Crystal the importance of a provider who offers a full hour of undivided attention. “It’s invaluable just to be able to have a doctor to spend an hour with you,” she says.
One of the most isolating aspects of MS is feeling like there is no roadmap. Crystal highlights a few “go-tos” that have changed her perspective:
When asked what advice she would give someone on “Day One,” Crystal’s answer is clear: Research your doctor. “The patient-doctor relationship is of utmost importance. Find one you feel comfortable with, someone with the right bedside manner,” she says.
She also warns against the “comparison trap.” “Don’t ever compare yourself,” Crystal insists. “Everybody’s path is different. X plus Y doesn’t equal. It’s your individual journey.”
This is especially important to remember, as MS is an invisible disease for many, meaning symptoms may not be outwardly apparent. It’s easy to make assumptions, but remember that everyone’s experience is unique.
Perhaps her most profound advice is to avoid “fast-forwarding” to a scary future. “Don’t get in your mind like, ‘Oh my gosh, my life is over.’ You deal with the future in the future. Stay in the present,” she adds.
As Crystal prepares for her next check-up in May 2026, her outlook is one of proactive curiosity. Whether she is attending Alpha Kappa Alpha (Hampton) reunions, Jack and Jill events, or spending time at her Martha’s Vineyard summer home, she refuses to let MS shrink her world.
“Life is too short,” she says. “I don’t sweat the small stuff. You’re not promised tomorrow, so we’re just going to keep on going.”
She notes that the circle of her supporters is “a tad bigger.” Besides her husband and two kids, her mother, father, brother, and best friends of 36+ years have been her rock. She is also bolstered by a host of Line Sisters and “Sister mom” friends she has made along the journey—spanning across AKA, JNJ, Track, Baseball, and Church.
Through it all, Crystal Gaines continues to be the “caboose” of the family—always moving, always catching up, and always blessed.
“And So It Is………..”
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