My Parent Has MS: A Game Plan
Description:
My Parent Has MS: A Game Plan is a compassionate and practical guide designed to help children and families understand and cope with a parent’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Michelle Swann combines clear explanations with emotional support, offering real strategies for communication, balance, and resilience. This book empowers families to face MS together—with knowledge, strength, and hope.
Synopsis:
My Parent Has MS: A Game Plan for Teens is a compassionate and practical guide written specifically for teenagers who are growing up with a parent living with Multiple Sclerosis. Dr. Michelle Swann combines medical knowledge with personal insight—drawing on her own experience of having a mother with MS—to provide teens with tools to understand, cope, and thrive despite the challenges of chronic illness in the family. The book explains MS in clear, accessible terms, helping teens grasp what their parent is going through physically and emotionally. Beyond the medical facts, it offers strategies for managing the emotional impact, including stress, fear, anger, and uncertainty. Dr. Swann emphasizes open communication, offering tips on how teens can talk with their parent, siblings, friends, and even medical professionals about the illness. With practical advice for navigating daily responsibilities, school pressures, and shifting family dynamics, the book helps teens build resilience while balancing their own needs with caregiving roles. Real-life stories and reflections add relatability, showing teens they are not alone in their struggles. Importantly, it also empowers young readers to seek support networks and coping strategies for themselves, ensuring they don’t feel invisible while supporting a parent. At its heart, this book is both a survival guide and a message of hope. It reassures teens that while life with MS in the family is undeniably difficult, it is also possible to adapt, grow stronger, and find meaning through connection, empathy, and self-care.
Content Overview:
Introduction: Understanding multiple sclerosis and what it means for your family
Chapter 1: Learning About MS – Simple explanations of symptoms, treatments, and how MS affects daily life
Chapter 2: Feelings and Family Changes – Helping children and teens navigate emotions and adjust to new routines
Chapter 3: Communication and Support – Encouraging open conversations and building empathy within the family
Chapter 4: Staying Strong Together – Practical strategies for managing responsibilities, stress, and self-care
Chapter 5: Finding Balance – Maintaining friendships, school life, and personal growth while supporting a parent
Chapter 6: Hope and Resilience – Stories of courage, medical progress, and staying positive through challenges
Resources and Activities: Helpful tools, journaling prompts, and guidance for families and caregivers
Why I wrote it:
I wrote My Parent Has MS: A Game Plan for Teens because I know what it feels like to grow up with a parent who has multiple sclerosis. My mom had MS, and I stepped into the role of caregiver when I was still very young. At times it was confusing, isolating, and overwhelming, but it also taught me strength and compassion. I wanted to create the kind of guide I wish I had back then—something honest, supportive, and practical—for other teens walking a similar path.
Reviews:
“Just like Michelle’s previous books … My Parent Has MS was captivating, didn’t bore at all, was well-paced, fluff-free and quite informative.”
“Michelle knew all the ups and downs and ins and outs of Multiple Sclerosis … so she gave all the precious information she knew from her experience to the children whose parents suffer from MS.”
“If you or someone you know is suffering from MS, this book offers a complete game plan for teens to manage their lives while mentally and physically caring for their MS parent.”
