Faith brings strength to woman battling MS

By Lisa Schulte
The Catholic Voice

 

You’d never guess Joan Beck has a physical disability.

A fitness instructor and personal trainer, the petite mother of four looks strong and healthy with her toned figure and bright smile. But three years ago, Beck was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system.

 

“When I was diagnosed with MS, it was a real shocker,” Beck, 46, said. “I don’t think I could have made it through without my faith.”

 

A member of St. Pius X Parish in Omaha, Beck said she struggled with her faith when she was first diagnosed, but has since found comfort and strength in God and his people.

 

“It really is pretty much a day by day struggle because you don’t know how you’re going to feel,” said Beck, who has had to reduce her workload due to fatigue and occasional numbness throughout her body. “If I can’t believe that things are going to be OK, then what do I have?

 

“I have faith that God will take care of me and that he’ll take care of my children no matter what happens.”

 

Friends at St. Pius X

 

Friends at St. Pius X have offered prayers, and provided meals and transportation for her children, said Beck, who is a member of the parish prayer line.

 

Assisting at home and helping her to keep a positive attitude are her husband, Ray, and four children, Nick, Liz and twins Matt and Andy.

“I just know that they are there for me,” Beck said. “Ray’s strength – his inner strength – and his faith have helped me. He can see the silver lining in things when at times I can’t.”

 

A runner, Beck accomplished something last month that few runners do in a lifetime – she competed in the Boston Marathon. She ran the 26.2 miles in six hours and four tenths of a second, in spite of pulling a calf muscle at the beginning of the race.

 

“I was very excited,” she said. “Two years ago I couldn’t have done it.”

 

Carries rosary

 

During the marathon, Beck held tightly to her gold finger rosary – a gift from her husband that she carries when she runs – and prayed for the fortitude to complete the race.

 

“I knew I was going to finish, but that I was going to be a lot slower,” she said.

 

The Boston Marathon took a toll on her body, she said, but that’s where her faith in God and positive attitude are making a difference.

 

“I used to talk about things I couldn’t do, but the last couple of years, I just seem to have a different approach…more like, why can’t I or why can’t I at least try,” she said.

 

Liz, a seventh-grader at St. Pius X/St. Leo School, said she admires her mom’s determination to live a full life despite multiple sclerosis.

 

“She’s a really hard worker and she never gives up,” Liz said. “She’s always doing something for someone else. I’m proud of her.”