A team effort: Young family members make Snoqualmie aunt Becky Schandel’s MS recovery a lot more lively

Becky Schandel could take her afternoon constitutional all by herself. But grand-niece and nephew Kiana and Elijah make the stroll a whole lot more lively for this Snoqualmie resident who has lived with multiple sclerosis for 26 years. Often called MS, multiple sclerosis is a condition marked by the body’s immune system destroying the protective covering of nerves. That makes it hard for the brain to communicate with the body. Symptoms vary, but people with MS may lose the ability to walk or speak. Symptoms may come and go, yet there is no cure for MS. There are treatments, however, that can help.

By Seth Truscott • September 27, 2012 4:03 pm
Grand-nephew and niece Elijah and Kiana Lamb help Becky Schandel of Snoqualmie stay active as she recovers from multiple sclerosis. Every time the children
Grand-nephew and niece Elijah and Kiana Lamb help Becky Schandel of Snoqualmie stay active as she recovers from multiple sclerosis. Every time the children

Becky Schandel could take her afternoon constitutional all by herself.

But grand-niece and nephew Kiana and Elijah make the stroll a whole lot more lively for this Snoqualmie resident who has lived with multiple sclerosis for 26 years.

Often called MS, multiple sclerosis is a condition marked by the body’s immune system destroying the protective covering of nerves. That makes it hard for the brain to communicate with the body. Symptoms vary, but people with MS may lose the ability to walk or speak. Symptoms may come and go, yet there is no cure for MS. There are treatments, however, that can help.

MS hasn’t kept Schandel from taking on the role of babysitter for Elijah and Kiana’s parents, Adam and Corina Lamb of North Bend.

She welcomes the energetic children over when their parents have to work or are busy. They literally run rings around the house, as Schandel minds them.

“On your mark, get set. Go!” Schandel counts up to 15 as Kiana races around the building. “They do a lot of running around.”

Schandel’s got footwork of her own to do.

One of her treatments for MS is a sidestepping exercise. It was hard at first, lifting one foot at a time.

“The first few days, it was really hard,” she said. “The one foot didn’t want to go.” But the children joined her, and inspired her.

“Now, they are walking down the hall with me, sideways. It really helps having them try to do it.”

Schandel was diagnosed with MS before she turned 21.

Before, “I had an active lifestyle,” she said. MS changed that, though. Even wearing high heels became a thing of the past.

But Schandel has not surrendered. Besides exercise, she’s trying a special MS recovery diet.

“You have to learn to live with it,” she says of the condition. “I have MS. MS does not have me.”

Every time they visit, Elijah and Kiana take Schandel on a stroll, their grand-aunt in her wheelchair, around her downtown Snoqualmie neighborhood.

It’s exercise for all. On a recent stroll, Elijah pushes with vigor, as Kiana excitedly awaits her turn. They reach the midpoint, then switch. Schandel frequently referees between the two. Besides one skinned knee and a few offroad trips, the adventure proceeds successfully.

“We have to help her start walking,” Kiana explains.

Schandel started babysitting a few years ago. It took a while for her to get used to having kids around. Today, they’re a big part of her life.

“It’s right for me,” Schandel says of the experience. “These two keep me going.”