BRYAN AND AMANDA BICKELL FOUNDATION
Father, Husband, NHL Player Bryan Bickell Retires From Pro Hockey After Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
Video credit: SPORTSNET VIA YOUTUBE
the following content is based on the piece originally published on multiple sclerosis news today 
Dec 4 2017 | FIND IT HERE
I was playing hockey professionally and doing the best I could, but my body wasn’t feeling right and I sensed something was wrong. After having to pull myself out of a team practice one day, I decided to schedule a visit with my doctor. I then learned I had relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS).

Looking back, I realize how much my life has changed. Though it hasn’t been easy, what’s stayed with me is my drive to be positive. It has helped me throughout my hockey career, and now I’ve focused this energy on fighting this difficult disease.

With MS, I’ve had to face challenges I never thought I’d be tackling, and set new goals for my future. I try to take one day at a time, getting support from friends and family along the way. With a year now behind me, I’ve had a chance to reflect on where I started and where I plan to go next in my fight against MS.
MY DIAGNOSIS

When my doctor first shared the news that I had MS, my wife Amanda and I felt confused and worried. We didn’t know much about this disease or how it would affect me. I was overcome with a terrible fear of the unknown.

What did this mean for my health and family?

I also had a sense of relief, because I finally had an answer to some of the unexplained symptoms I’d been experiencing for several years, including dizziness and pain that spread through my shoulder and leg. No longer did I have to ask myself, “What’s wrong with me?” With my wife’s help, I knew I had to fight this disease head-on and take action.

In the days and weeks following my November 2016 diagnosis, I worked closely with my doctor to learn all I could about my relapsing MS. Together we decided on a care plan, including a treatment option that’s right for me. 
MY SUPPORT TEAM

I retired from professional hockey in April 2017 after making the personal decision to focus on my health and time with my family. 

I’d spent my whole life on the ice, working through long practices and constantly traveling to different cities, so it wasn’t easy adjusting to a different lifestyle. Fortunately, Amanda has helped me so much over the last year. She also continues to encourage me to stay active. These last months, I’ve enjoyed taking walks with our dog and playing with our two young daughters.

Since my diagnosis, I’ve realized what matters most in my life. Spending time with my family, something I had limited time to do previously, is the highlight of my day. Little things, like cooking dinner or sitting down to read a bedtime story, have a lot of meaning for me.

I truly feel blessed to have my own fan club at home. I want to stay strong and be there for them. Working with my doctor, I continue the lifestyle habits I learned as an athlete, such as eating well and take the time I need to rest.

I’ve been humbled by my friends and former teammates who support me and keep me as motivated off the ice as they did when I was on it. 

Their encouragement, along with those in the MS community who’ve reached out after learning about my diagnosis, is what inspires me to keep going and help others in their fight with MS. I believe we’re all in this together.
Bryan Bickell Tribute at NHL Awards, JUNE 2017
THE NEXT CHAPTER

I’m looking ahead to the next part of my life with MS. 

Amanda and I have launched a few new programs as part of our charity organization, The Bryan & Amanda Bickell Foundation. Prior to my diagnosis, our main focus was helping dogs; saving pit bull breeds from the negative stigma around them, and the unfortunate ripple effects from that.

Since my diagnosis, we've expanded our organization to provide trained service dogs to help people living with MS navigate some day-to-day challenges. We've also purchased a piece of land with 3 cottages in Marmora, Ontario that we are turning into an accessible Retreat for people with MS and their families to enjoy.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to expand our Foundation’s efforts to benefit people living with MS. 

Hockey taught me the importance of perseverance and teamwork, and I’ve carried these lessons into my new life with MS. I’m doing my best to stay optimistic and continue moving forward. No matter what, I am and always will be a fighter.

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