Monieca Jones' Story of Strength

At 61, Monieca Jones has lived with a Primary Progressive MS diagnosis for 14 years, but her story began long before her diagnosis. 

Between five and seven years old, Monieca experienced quadriplegia. Her father carried her around, and she spent a year in the hospital with a broken leg. Doctors guessed that she might have rheumatoid arthritis. 

She built a career in capital construction and pursued a master’s degree. On job sites, she brushed off what she thought were clumsy moments. She would jump up from unexpected falls and missteps, so she wouldn’t be the one to ruin the safety record. Around that time, she says her hairdresser diagnosed her MS, saying, “She thought I was drunk walking into the salon.” 

The truth arrived abruptly. One morning, Monieca woke up unable to move. A friend climbed over a balcony to reach her, and soon after, the MS diagnosis followed. “I was alone with nowhere to go,” she said. “I struggled to tell family and friends.” She spent time in the hospital and then two months in a rehabilitation facility, rebuilding her strength day by day. 

Today, Monieca uses braces on both legs to manage foot drop, though she can’t feel the balls of her feet. Her right side is her strongest, though MS has challenged that too. She drives a 2021 Honda Odyssey with hand controls that has been modified to accommodate her motorized wheelchair. 

She says, “I became a determined person. I have a good attitude. My mom and dad didn’t really talk about all this when I was young because they didn’t want me to think I couldn’t do anything. Since my MS diagnosis, I’ve bungee-jumped, parachuted; you name it. Yes, I CAN.” 

About Can Do Voices

Can Do MS Voices shares the personal stories of people living with MS, their care partners, and the professionals who support them. These stories remind us that no two MS journeys are alike, but together, we can learn, grow, and find strength in community.  

If you have a story you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at info@cando-ms.org to be part of Can Do MS Voices.