A sunnier than life radio presenter is the latest celebrity to bare all, figuratively speaking, and reveal to his co-presenters, listeners and, indeed, the world that he has multiple sclerosis.
Steve Buda is one of a three-person team presenting the early morning show on WNSN’s Sunny 101.5 to the city of South Bend, Indiana, which has a population of more than 102,000.
Steve Buda (left) with colleagues Traci Capellman and Jack Reichert present Sunny 101.5’s Jack. Steve and Traci Show every weekday morning.
Along with colleagues Jack Reichert and Traci Capellman, Steve invites listeners to wake up to music ranging from the 1980s to the current charts. The show, which is aired Monday to Friday, starts at 5.30am and goes on until 9am – by which time Steve cheerfully admits to having been up for seven hours.
Steve Buda, MS hasn’t stopped the smiles from this bubbling personality.
He received a diagnosis of having RRMS (relapsing MS) in November and says it was a shock but that his wife and two children, whom he prefers not to name, and his colleagues have been brilliant.
Now, by going public about his MS journey, Steve is hoping to persuade the community at large to take part in fundraising to support efforts to find a cure.
Thinking back, Steve recalls getting diagnosed was a long process.
MRI pictures Steve’s problem
His first symptom was actually drop foot followed by leg weakness gradually developing over several years
“But I first went to see the doctor because I was tired and had back pain,” he remembers.
Steve at the microphone ‘on air’ in the Sunny 101,5 studio.
“I went for a follow-up and the spine doctor goes: ‘You know, I’m going to have you see someone. Something isn’t right.’”
Steve then went for an MRI and that’s how the doctors made the diagnosis.
“It was weird because right away your thinking this is the wheelchair disease, but the first neurologist I saw said: ‘This is by no means going to end you up in a wheelchair – if we stop it where it’s at.’”
In fact, the neurologist wasted no time. In order to help slow down the progression of the disease, Steve gets monthly infusions of Tysabri.
Wherever you live, in whichever country, you have an opportunity to help raise money to fund research to work towards finding a cure, Steve says.
“We can make sure testing is done, and we can hopefully end this,” he said. “It’s a disease that people have to relearn how to do things. I exercise twice a day. I still play with the kids. It’s just a different way of looking at life.”
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Spelling
Please note that being born in the UK, all my posts, are written using British English spelling.
For example:
Centre not center (except in names, Centers of Disease Control) Colour not color Diarrhoea not diarrhea Haematology not hematology Haematopoietic not hematopoietic
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50shadesofsun.com is the personal website of Ian Franks. He enjoyed a successful career as a journalist, from reporter to editor in the print media. He gained a Journalist of the Year award in his native UK. More recently, he was a freelance medical writer and editor for various health information sites. Ian received a diagnosis of MS in 2002 and now lives in the south of Spain. He uses a wheelchair and advocates on mobility and accessibility issues.
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Note: Health-related information available on 50shadesofsun website is for your general knowledge only. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Ian is not a doctor, so cannot and does not give you medical advice. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues. Also, consult a doctor before starting a new diet or exercise programme. Any opinions expressed are purely his own unless otherwise stated.
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